where you put your mouth, or your whistle
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- Tell us something.: I moved, so I'm in a different city. Not in Texas anymore!!! Although if someone sees that I'm in NYC, maybe they'll know of local places that I can look for whistles.
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where you put your mouth, or your whistle
I was at the Kerry Whistles website and the guy playing on the videos there (Phil Hardy?) has the whistle at the side of his mouth. Is that common? I haven't actually SEEN that many people play whistle, but when I play it's in the middle.
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- Tell us something.: I haven't been active on the site for years. I'm busy raising grandkids so I don't get out to play much.
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- herbivore12
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Play in whatever position is most comfortable for you (lotus, kneeling, centered, offset, whatever), as long as you're satisfied with your tone.
I play with whistles slightly cocked to the right; simply felt most comfortable that way.
Some people also find the stretch for larger whistles (low D and below, usually), to be easier when playing the whistle slightly cocked to the right. Brings the lower holes into easier reach of the right hand, for those folks.
Centered whistling is cool, too, though; if you're comfortable there, no need to start experimenting.
Except for the heck of it.
I play with whistles slightly cocked to the right; simply felt most comfortable that way.
Some people also find the stretch for larger whistles (low D and below, usually), to be easier when playing the whistle slightly cocked to the right. Brings the lower holes into easier reach of the right hand, for those folks.
Centered whistling is cool, too, though; if you're comfortable there, no need to start experimenting.
Except for the heck of it.
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I play off to the side on my highs, when I was getting started I found it much much easier not to over blow my notes when I did it this way. I still play that way with my high whistles and when I'm preforming on stage, but a couple low whistles I have I play centered cuz for some reason I cant get that breathe control right with the whistle off to the side.
- Cyfiawnder
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Well I've seen old Matt Bivins from Jump, Little Children play his whistle crooked like that, but then, he's kind of a weird guy, so I don't think you could use him to represent other whistlers.
Yea, you can hear yourself better doing that, that's the only reason I can think of. I don't do it myself though.
Yea, you can hear yourself better doing that, that's the only reason I can think of. I don't do it myself though.
<i>The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.</i>
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Re: where you put your mouth, or your whistle
Your milage may vary, but it is easier for me to play in tune with the whistle straight, and on the front of my lips (no crunching). This seems especially helpful in the higher part of the whistle's range, and on better whistles. Venturing a guess as to why; a players mouth isn't like a bagpipe bladder, the air comes directly from the lungs, so the more direct the path of the air, the less turbulence. I don't know how accepted this is, but I've heard two very good artists say they believe it.TXwhistle wrote:I was at the Kerry Whistles website and the guy playing on the videos there (Phil Hardy?) has the whistle at the side of his mouth. Is that common? I haven't actually SEEN that many people play whistle, but when I play it's in the middle.
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- Kar
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I'm glad someone brought this up because I saw a guy at a music camp play out of the side of his mouth and I thought, "What the heck is he doing? Am *I* supposed to be playing that way?"
I play straight, for all the whistles, but for the longer end-blown flutes I have (NAF), they are too long to play straight when I am sitting cross-legged (which is how I play), so I have to sort of play to the right, across one knee.
I play straight, for all the whistles, but for the longer end-blown flutes I have (NAF), they are too long to play straight when I am sitting cross-legged (which is how I play), so I have to sort of play to the right, across one knee.
- Kar
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I'm glad someone brought this up because I saw a guy at a music camp play out of the side of his mouth and I thought, "What the heck is he doing? Am *I* supposed to be playing that way?"
I play straight, for all the whistles, but for the longer end-blown flutes I have (NAF), they are too long to play straight when I am sitting cross-legged (which is how I play), so I have to sort of play to the right, across one knee.
I play straight, for all the whistles, but for the longer end-blown flutes I have (NAF), they are too long to play straight when I am sitting cross-legged (which is how I play), so I have to sort of play to the right, across one knee.
- LeeMarsh
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I play a little to the right, especially with low whistle for a couple of reasons. First, if feels more comfortable. Secondly because it's easier to draw a quick big breath from the left side of my mouth if the whistle is on the right side of my mouth. There was an added advantage to this, the first time I used a microphone, I could focus the whistle towards the mike and draw breath away from the mike, more music, less gasps coming out of the speakers. (Besides which I'm a little of center anyways )
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
From Odenton, MD.
Lee Marsh
From Odenton, MD.
- Monster
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The whistler that got me into whistling was a sidewinder, and a mouthpiece chomper to boot! Needless to say, didn't work to well for me, straight on seems much easier. I find that if the whistle is too far off center, it is very difficult to tongue properly.
Last edited by Monster on Thu Oct 09, 2003 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
insert uber smart comment here