A musical pipe (no reed) about a foot and a half long with six holes that generally plays in the key of D, though other tunings are available. Popular with folksingers and small children. Produces a tone somewhat like a flute but much less rich, and requires great breath control to avoid sounding shrill. Practiced players however, can produce beautiful tones and intricate sounds from the simple whistle. Renowned flute virtuoso James Galway started out as a penny whistle player as a boy. Much of the playing style of the penny whistle, for example traditional ornamentation, was adopted from the bagpipe.