In all the many years I have been a beginning penny whistle player, I have yet to see anything in print addressing the problem of the spittal clogged fipple. Do all whistle players have a drier mouth that I? Is there a secret to preventing clogging of the fipple? Does everyone hold those little “do not eat” bags of dessicant in their mouths? Can someone advise me on this subject?
Some whistles clog more than others. Whistles with brass fipples
often clog faster than those with plastic, for example. There are
many tricks to avoid clogging. Some folks say you should put a
little Jet Dry or dish soap solutions on the fipple. See here:
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/moist.htm
There’s also a product called Duponol that is an “Anti-clogging
agent”, which is also placed in the windway and allowed to dry.
If you move to playing flute you can use the pint glass at your right.
fearfaoin is right about the soap solution, it does help a lot. I also have tried to stick to the principal of not playing the whistle from one hour before to one hour after eating. If you make less saliva, you won’t have as much of a problem with it. (Pavlovian dog thing)
I have also noticed that if you put the end of the fipple barely between the lips and no further, it helps a bit too. good luck…
Eating can really cause a saliva problem. Especially avoid chocolate whilst whistling!
Laura