Hi. I have the original Clarke D whistle with the wooden fipple. I have the whole kit with the CD and book. I play just fine for about 1/2 an hour to an hour hitting the notes perfectly and then I just can’t seem to get the notes no matter how hard I try. I tried clearing the whistle of moisture and I still have a problem. Would it be better if I played with a different whistle with a plastic mouthpiece?
HI Cottontail,
It appears that you’re new to the forum so…welcome.
There are quite a few variables here so it would help to get more detail.
What do you mean by “can’t get the notes”? Are they sharp or flat? Are they muffled? Do they squeak?
It may be that you’re experiencing excess moisture, as you surmise, but cleaning should resolve that. If you are a particularly “wet” player, then a plastic mouthpiece may or may not help at all. Often, as you play more you will improve in that area. There is a tendency to salivate when anything is placed in the mouth. After you become accustomed to having the whistle in your mouth, this often lessens. If you’re experiencing squeaking your fingers may be getting tense or tired so you won’t cover the holes as completely as when you begin playing. This also improves with practice.
There will undoubtedly be others along to offer additional ideas.
ecohawk
Hey Cottontail, if can’t get any note at all, it sounds to me as if the holes weren’t covered properly. Do this with special attention at the beginning! However, I think learning with the Clarke Original isn’t very rewarding. As for myself, it really took me some time till I got to like it. The Sweetone or Meg with a plastic mouthpiece is WAY easier to play!
Cottontail,
welcome to Chiff & Fipple. I sent you a PM. Also, great advice by Ecohawk and megapop.
Cayden
The windway of the Clarke is huge, so you have to use a lot of air to keep it sounding good. Could you just be getting tired after 1/2hr?
One popular tweak for the Clarke is to CAREFULLY press the top of the windway down, making a smaller wind channel which requires less air.
You can probably just press the metal down with your thumb. Do this a tiny bit at a time. Test. Repeat as necessary.
Whoa! Before pressing down the windway, which can likely ruin your whistle, try the following: Cut out a piece of stiff paperboard of the width of the windway, and slide it into it, just above the wooden block. This also narrows the windway, and is removable as desired.
Brewerpaul may be a brave and fearless man, but I myself never dared to use violence on my whistles…
Is it possible that the cedar wood is swelling up and raising the windway floor?
(Not that this has happened to me.)
You could seal the wood when its dry with a mineral oil, or some such.
maybe this thread can help?
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/clarke-tweak/83020/1
Thanks everyone for your awesome advice! I bought a new whistle with a plastic mouthpiece just to see the difference. I bought a Walton Little Black Whistle. (Note: Cayden, I bought this before I got your advice about Jerry:( but I will check him out to.) I think it’s a moisture issue. I’ll update everyone after I get my new whistle. I ordered it on ebay so it will take a week or so to get here.
Cottontail,
Not a problem, it certainly will not be the last whistle you purchase once the WHOAD kicks in. You all know what I am talking about. 
Let me know if I can help you out.
Cayden
did i get this right?
you help out with WHOAD problems?
can i send you a whishlist? 
German Whistler,
You can send me a wish list if you want, but you are exhibiting very wishful thinking if you believe my offer of help would include providing the whisltes wished for. 
I have my own issues with WHOAD to overcome. 
It’s whistle madness I tell ye!
Cayden
Hi Cottontail. I notice that my Clark Original needs to be shaken out quite frequently. Now that I have been playing a few weeks, I notice this moisture issue happening more often than it did when I first started. I guess I am slobbering more. 
I plan on picking up some waxed dental floss today and trying that trick to prevent the moisture from building up.
I am perplexed by the comments that the Clarke requires a lot of air. I keep reading this in different threads. I don’t feel like the Original requires much air at all. My generations seem more greedy in that department.
I really love the tone of the Clarke. It has a very sweet sound to me. I just wish the higher octave wasn’t quite so breathy.