Hi,
Just started playing and wondering if there is a very easy way of making whistles quieter.
Reason for this is so I can practice and not disturb my family while watching TV, or may be in bed.
Beleive me I need plenty of practice, but i am so looking forward to playing more to really improve.
Is there a way???
Please help me get to play more.
Thanks alot…
Tony…Sheffield England…
Hope this is not a silly question.
Hi Tony - Check out the “Whistle Mute” thread that’s going on now. They’ve got some good (and also some distinctly bad) ideas. 
Susan
A few months ago there was a thread about mutes made from modified garbage bad ties. I made several, one of which I use regularly on my Burke Brass. Here’s an attempt at a description. You take one of those yellow (in the US anyway) plastic garbage bag ties that are designed with a tab at one end and serrated on both sides down most of it’s length. (This type of tie is not twisted on the bag. The narrow end is looped through a hole in the tabbed end, and it is pulled tight.)
Well, you trim off those serrated teeth, trim the tab down, and cut a slot in the tab so that it hooks to one side of the fipple. The wider the mute the quieter the whisle. For the Burke, the mute that covers half the width of the window seems to work best.
Simple method: wrap a rubber band around the window, closing it off a bit.
Teri
I’ve just been using a piece of clear tape to close off one side of the window.
It does make the whistle very flat however. Not a problem if it’s tuneable, and you’ve got enough tuning space…
Halve the windway with something like Blu-Tak
..works a treat…I have tried that and can tootle away between patients, no problems…only the chiropodist hears me, …and she practises her chanter for GHB between times, so we’re even!!
Boyd
http://www.strathspeyinmay.com
[ This Message was edited by: boyd on 2002-11-16 18:32 ]
Paper clips, I say!
Durable, simple, quickly
stuck in windway,
need no fabrication
or assembly, safe
(unlike peanut butter
or paper bags), readily
available, easily stored
or transported,
aesthetically pleasing,
minimal enviromental impact…
Paper clips! rant, rave, snort…
On 2002-11-16 18:12, boyd wrote:
Halve the windway with something like Blu-Tak
..works a treat…I have tried that and can tootle away between patients, no problems…only the chiropodist hears me, …and she practises her chanter for GHB between times, so we’re even!!
Who’s the chiropodist? Does she play in a band? And more importantly, what is a chiropodist? Does she operate on bats’ feet?
Cheers,
Aaron
hmm. About the paperclip one, I tried that on several of my whistles today, and it didn’t work. 
I don’t know if I’m placing it wrong, or need to bend it a certain way, or something, but it doesn’t work with my Clarkes or my Susato.
Chere Elf, One takes the clip
and places it vertically in the window,
between the blade and the mouthpiece.
It sticks up straight in front of
one’s nose, a bit. So goes the
User’s Manual. I have no Susato
with me, but it works fine on
my Clarke classic, also on my
Copeland high D. No bending
or mutilation of the clip
is called for.
Note that there are two sizes
of clips–big ones and small ones.
Both appear to work. However one
must be careful with the small
ones to position them upright,
not sloping into the whistle,
for then they might shoot out
the bottom at high velocity
while you’re playing,
doing heaven knows what to
heaven knows whom.
Best, Jim
On 2002-11-16 21:29, AaronMalcomb wrote:
And more importantly, what is a chiropodist? Does she operate on bats’ feet?
Cheers,
Aaron
Nah–that would be a chiropterologist. Or chiroproctologist 
In France, we do have chiracology; these are the journalists accredited by Monsieur le Président.
I think the US equivalent is a Podiatrist?
Boyd
(quote)…only the chiropodist hears me, …and she practises her chanter for GHB between times,
Totally cool! Another musical foot Doc!! I gotta meet this gal if she ever comes to the US.
Yes, a Chiropodist is the equivalent of a US Podiatrist. I oughta know, since I are one of those Inspired by the Musical Priest, I wrote a tune called The Musical Chriropodist one time ( I liked the sound of that name better than Podiatrist). If I can find the ABCs, I’ll post it.
Thanks Jim. I guess I’ll just have to do some experimenting.