I like playing the whistle whenever opportunity rises, which is why I carry 3 whistles in my vest at all times. Why three? Different keys and well, its a long narrow pocket, what else would YOU put in there?
Anyway my question.
I find that going for a walk, or waiting outside somewhere is a good opportunity to play, but the wind keeps stealing the sound from my whistle (doesn’t always take much either). I tried rotating the fipple away from the wind, but I’ve yet to see a good steady wind here, it just sneaks around the other side when you least expect it. And spinning around in circles trying to avoid the wind is distracting, and all too amusing for others.
So what do you suggest I do? Is there a good way to create some sort of wind shield over the fipple window?
It seems the wind is my biggest music critic so far.
I’m considering some trial busking soon, but unless I bring a canopy with me or something I doubt I’d get far.
I understand that some whistles are better for playing outdoors than others. The only suggestion that I have heard is rotating the fipple so that the airway is facing upside down.
My best “Tweak” for outdoor playing is to attach a larger diameter section of cardboard or plastic tubing around the voicing area. Like a large “O” around a small “o”. The outer ring should be attached at the opposite side from the voicing window (tape?).
The wind will travel around the outer tube and not disrupt the oscillations of the labium ramp but will leave enough space at the voicing to radiate sound.
Important note: There must be enough space between the window and the outer tube or the sound will be muffled and the “Tommy-screen”(snicker ) must be at least 1 inch long.
Historical note: Dolmetsch invented a “bell” for the Recorder voicing window for outdoor play and improved loudness. I’m sure it could be revived (?)
I’ve played in windy conditions with the mouthpiece rotated upside down and although it didn’t completely solve the problem, it surely helped. You’d think it’d affect the volume since the window is pointing down, but it really didn’t have much of a negative effect and the whistle could still be well heard.
The patented Gurumatic Chiff-Gard™ is the answer. Select natural fibers allow the whistle’s sound to penetrate and project, while blocking ambient air currents that can disrupt Von Karman vortex formation at the labium edge.
Important Safety Tip: When using the Gurumatic Chiff-Guard, REMOVE THE SNAKE BEFORE DONNING THE CHIFF-GUARD! Failure to follow this instruction has been known to cause serious injury or death in the state of California.
WOW MTG! You really have an Idea there! It’s also is a fine fashion statement too! (Didn’t Jackie Kennedy wear one of those?) Could I substitute a 5 gal. plastic bucket?
You’re correct Walrii, a “Wet Willie” from a Cobra would be detrimental to One’s health! Would regulation ear plugs help?
I play outside in windy conditions and yes, when the wind gusts, you might be spinning around. But unless it’s really windy AND gusty, as long as you can feel the wind equally on both ears, you’re okay.
I might try some sort of cardboard shield, though.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to get a Sweetheart whistle? Seriously, I’ve played my Sweetheart or over 15 years in all kinds of wind with no problem. It’s one of the whistles on the list of ‘Whistles to Play Outdoors’. Practically wind-proof and LOUD.
It’s a trade-off…the only way I’ve been able to regularly combat wind gusts is to use my wireless headset so I can turn my back to the wind when appropriate. There’s a separate learning curve for using the headset though. I only use mine now at the occasional outdoor festival/concert although I think I look cooler when I’m wearing it.
Good suggestions! I guess MTGuru’s method works best with a “Serpent” whistle.
Another method that I have tried is to fashion organ ears with putty around the voicing window similar to what you see on Copeland’s low whistles. It’s the same principle as that suggested by Thomas, if I am understanding it correctly, in that it makes the depth of the window deeper which hopefully keeps the wind from disrupting the action at the labium.
I play outside quite a lot. The whistle that always works, also on windy days, is my Impempe high D. How it’s done I don’t know, but any whistle suffers from wind except that one.
Ok, Thomas! I realized that I don’t quite understand what you have described. Are you sugesting a sort of tent that covers the window? Do you have a reference or a picture that I could take a look at? I did go searching for the Dolmetsch “bell” but haven’t found an example yet. I did find the Dolmetsch “Tone Projector” which was more along the lines of what I was describing though, a small megaphone type of structure that straps around the voicing window. It’s meant to project the sound outward but surely would protect the window from crosswinds as well.
An example can be seen on this page: http://www.dolmetsch.com/ouraccessories.htm
Feadoggie
I Think some Copeland whistles have a wall around the top and sides of the window. I have made a few of Dr guido’s low tech whistles and experimented with creating this feature. It not only makes the voicing of the whistle less breathy sounding/ cleaner tone, i found the whistle better outside. Dr guido’ wind way cap stops at the top of the window, i just lengthened the wind way cap down to the bottom of the ramp and then cut the same size window as the tube. This makes the top and walls of the window double the thickness of the tube.
In an earlier post i think someone mentioned that their sweatheart played well outdoors, could this be because the window on the sweatheart has a much thicker window than most other whistles?
I also have a sindt which i notice has a thick walled window, you can see that well on the sindt because the mouthpiece is considerably thicker than the rest of the whistle.
If you look at the various whistles on a church organ, some of them have a wall around the top and sides of the window. This as far as i understand concentrates the air flow, without external interferance, and perhaps assists a cleaner tone.
it would be interesting to hear from Thomas about this.
Yes, that’s the idea. I do think your observations are very good. I have also made quite a few whistles in a similar manner to what you have described. I have varied the depth of the walls around the window by changing the outer diameter of the mouthpiece sleeve. I do think a certain window depth strengthens/stabilizes the tone - even a breathy, tone if you like. Protection from a breeze is an added benefit.
The depth of the window is called “chimney height”, and yes, it helps to stabilize the pitch(along with ramp angle). Recorders are designed this way to allow students better pitch stability with minor changes in breath pressure. Tin Whistle players like a shallow ramp for faster register changes and “pitch bending” notes.
Organ Pipes extend the sides of the window (as you stated) and are called “Ears”. They are used for 2 reasons, 1) to control pitch variation and 2) to protect against crossover air sounding the 2 pipes on each side. #2 works in reverse, in your test case, protecting the whistle voicing from outside air disrupting sound generation. Arnold Dolmetsch stated this added benefit of clear notes on a windy day with his Recorder Voicing Bell.
Yes, the wall around the window strengthens and slightly flattens the pitch.
If you can take the headjoint off, put in on upside down. It looks strange but it plays better in the wind. Maybe the closer proximity to you body protects it from wind, the hands in way may reduce it as well but I’ve seen the upside headjoint work pretty well - some of course, work better than others.
I seem to recall that photo of the flute player with the unusual head wear. On close inspection there is a square of wicker that is intended to allow the player to see out. That is to say, it’s not just some silly basket. Does anyone know the significance of this attire? It would be a shame if we were all laughing at a holy man in traditional garb, since we’re pretty tradition-oriented folks here.
) must be at least 1 inch long.
