Brus
May 17, 2013, 1:33pm
1
I was going to post on this topic but I see it was done - eight years ago, so maybe a refresh is in order.
Probably many whistle players haven’t seen this since it comes from a book on that instrument whose name rhymes with “flea hoarder”
walrii:
I would offer the following on breath control from Kenneth Wollitz’s book. Note that this exercise has nothing to do with music until step 5. This is a breathing exercise.
Without an instrument, take a normal breath and let out a relaxing sigh. We all sigh like this every day. Take another breath and let out another relaxing sigh. Make the sigh completely relaxed with no control at all. Keep breathing and sighing until you are so relaxed you are about to nod off.
This is the really difficult part. Get your whistle and sigh into it. Do the same relaxed sigh you just practiced. Warning: remove all small mammals from the immediate area; they may suffer hearing loss. Ear plugs for yourself wouldn’t be a bad idea. The sound you will get from the whistle starts as a shriek in some alien octave, wails its way down through the scales and ends in a pitiful little gurgle. Pay no attention to the sound. Concentrate on heaving that relaxed sigh into the whistle. If you find yourself trying to control this horrible sound, put down the whistle, go back to step 1 and remind yourself what a completely relaxed sigh feels like. When you are able to sigh a completely relaxed sigh into the whistle, move on to step 3.
Now take a shallow breath and heave the same relaxed sigh into the whistle. The sound should approximate a tone from some musical universe then taper down to the aforementioned pitiful little gurgle. If at any point you find yourself attempting to control the sigh, go back to step 1 and remind yourself what a completely relaxed sigh feels like.
Change the depth of your inhales so the sound you get from the gentle sigh is a note. It will still taper off to the APLG. The sigh should still be completely relaxed with absolutely no attempt to control the exhalation.
Finally, sigh gently into the whistle as in step 4 but exert the very minimum effort needed to sustain the note. You should now get a steady, pure tone with so little effort you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Your body will be completely relaxed except for the ever-so-slight effort needed to sustian the sigh.
I’m still a beginner and still have problems with breath control but this exercise really helped me get a handle on my breathing. Hope this helps.
I have the lungs of a former racing cyclist (thats me, I didn’t steal them off someone else).
Breath control is not something I have big issues with, unless it’s when my hayfever hits! Does anyone have any tips for dealing with reduced breath due to allergy/asthma?
Rich
The Wollitz book contains a lot that is of use to whistle players. If you can find a copy, get it. It may even convince you to try the recorder.
bogman
June 2, 2013, 12:30pm
5
I’m afraid I don’t believe in breath exercises for the whistle. All the exercise you need comes from playing the tunes and by doing that you have the added bonus of exercising your fingers, memorising the tunes, improving your technique and enjoying playing the music all at the same time.
I generally agree that just playing is enough breath exercise. However, for a first time wind player lacking a teacher for the very basics, some general guidelines from a source like the Wollitz book can be a big help. Once he/she can produce a halfway decent tone, playing will supply the rest.
