Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle
  • Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle

Piwakawaka, Handcrafted Alto-A Tuneable Penny Whistle

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$83.00

The Piwakawaka is a handcrafted penny whistle in the key of A major, the result of all I have learned about whistles and flutes. You can hear me play my song 'Kokako Spring' on the very similar Kokako whistle on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTDkNYtDcgw (Cut and paste into your browser)

This instrument is an alto whistle, named

The Piwakawaka is a handcrafted penny whistle in the key of A major, the result of all I have learned about whistles and flutes. You can hear me play my song 'Kokako Spring' on the very similar Kokako whistle on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTDkNYtDcgw (Cut and paste into your browser)

This instrument is an alto whistle, named after the iconic native New Zealand fantail. The pitch is lower than high D whistles like the Clarke or Feadog. The Piwakawaka whistles are tough, made from anodized aluminum, PVC and wood. They are available in a choice of two finishes, satin or chrome (choose when you check out). They feature:

  • A tuning slide to allow fine tuning about half a semitone each way
  • A small gold-painted bell which helps improve the volume of the lower notes of each octave compared to the higher notes.
  • A curved lip against which the air is directed like a classical flute, rather than a straight one, giving a distinctive mellow and slightly breathy tone.
  • Accurate pitch, carefully hand tuned to A=440Hz, within the limits of variable air temperature and how hard you blow.
  • A range of at least two octaves, A4 to G#6
  • A very comfortable mouthpiece shape compared to many PVC or aluminium whistles.
  • A chromatic fingering chart, although not intended as a fully chromatic instrument.

Besides the key of A, the Piwakawaka is easily played in Dorian mode (the scale starting on B), in D and Bm by half-holing the G#, in E major and C# minor ( see chart for the D#) and of course F#m.

There is a t-shirt featuring the Piwakawaka bird image also available from my Etsy store.

NOTES: * Sorry, t-shirt and photo props are not included * Instruments are all handmade to order * Wooden parts are made from reclaimed timber, or from wood cut from my own trees.

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