Not wanting to derail the other “in general” warm up thread (God knows thread derailment NEVER happens here ) I decided to start a new topic.
I have recently acquired (Thank You rhulsey!!!) a Burke Viper that I adore. But, it definitely requires significant warming up. It absolutely refuses to reach the top of the upper register before attaining the perfect interior temperature.
This isn’t a problem at home or practice, but in performances, I need it to be ready when needed without taking time out for warm up.
I know other whistler-types keep their whistles warm by placing the whistles inside various pieces of clothing. This is fine, for a smaller high D, even though sometimes challenging for a female fippler like myself. But no way will this solution work with the big boy low D.
I’m currently trying to jerry-rig a heating pad into a tall wine gift box that I have weighted down so it won’t tip over. I need to have the Viper close at hand, on stage, not at risk of rolling away, warm and ready to go.
Has anyone else come up with solutions for this type of problem?
The little African Pygmy Hedgehog that is pictured as my avatar is identical to my daughter’s former pet. Unfortunately hedgehogs have short lives and we decided not to replace her. When we enjoyed her company, we had to take special precautions in our Colorado winters since it can be dangerous for a domestic hedgehog to go into hibernation.
(Your patience please. I am going somewhere with this. )
It also can be dangerous to use heating pads for animals. They tend to tear holes in them or get them wet – decidedly bad things for electrical wiring. We found a great solution for our hedgehog: plastic microwave gel disks. You heat one of these in a microwave for about 4-5 minutes and get 8 or more hours of steady low grade heat.
Since we have a surplus disk now, I have been thinking about making some sort of fleece whistle bag with a pocket for the disk. If I can figure out a good design, it should keep several whistles at a good playing temperature most of the day, indoors or out. without any need for cords or outlets.
I can’t remember exactly what we paid, but I do recall seeing these on sale occasionally in the $20 + range. Might be worth considering.
Some good, practical solutions here. Mine is extremely low tech and only works in certain situations.
The times that I’ve been on stage with a low whistle I just put the head of the whistle under my thigh for the entire tune before I needed it… of course, this only works if you’re sitting (which accordion and bodhran players tend to do a lot). This kept the whistle warm enough to play when ready.
I like the tall socks idea, but it might be a little distracting at first. (Not just to the audience, but to me, too!)
I googled microwave warming pads and found a couple of sites that give pretty simple make-it-yourself directions using field corn.
I like that kind of idea better than the electric heating pad. You never know how far away the outlet will be, and I need the whistle right by my side, ready to go.
This problem really bugs me- when you’re playing festivals and switching between whistles and other instruments, the whistles soon get cold and damp. I slide my high d under my leg when I’m playing if its in the next set which keeps it warm, but I haven’t had any quick and easy solution for my low F or D, besides warming them up with my hands in the interval between sets.
There I was, thinking the microwavable warmers would be more convenient than the electric heating pad, since they wouldn’t need an outlet. But the microwave would need electric, wouldn’t it? That is, IF there’s a microwave nearby.
Walden’s low tech hot water bottle is beginning to look better.
well, if the pad gives 8 hours of heat, as indicated, and you weren’t playing at an all day event, you could microwave it before you left, and it should last an entire gig.
Now if you’re at a festival or something, that wouldn’t be enough When I’m at festivals, though, I use those pocket handwarmers. You can get them about a dollar at Warlmart in the fall.
I was thinking of the home-made micro warmers made with field corn, Wanderer. I don’t think they’d last 8 hours, probably not more than one, is my guess.
I suppose the handwarmers you pictured might work, but do you think just one would do the job for the whole whistle if placed near the mouthpiece? That seems to be the critical area needing warmth, on my Viper. Also, how do you hold them in place while you’re busy playing another instrument?
They say that the best way to thaw something frozen is to put it in cold water. Oddly enough, it thaws it quicker than hot or warm water. Maybe this works off the same principal.
) I decided to start a new topic.
