I think I’m on to something.
I’ve noticed that when I breathe “normally” when playing, the notes “sag at the end” sometimes. But if I keep the lungs well full of air as much as possible, this trailing off doesn’t occur, and I seem to get better intonation.
Or maybe I’m just imagining this.
Any thoughts?
Support your breath from the diaphram; that will help you maintain breath pressure even as your lungs empty. If you notice that you’re sagging, breathe. Are you playing some breath-hungry high-ender?
Somewhere halfway in between is probably just about right.
I’d say it probably depends on your lung capacity, what whistle you’re using and what piece you’re playing. Generally I’d suggest taking a pretty large breath to start out with, a full breath but not uncomfortably full. Start playing (support the air with the diaphram like Bloomfield suggested) and see how far you get before you feel low. You may be able to make it to the end of the phrase, or maybe not.
If you have a whistle that requires very little air, you may not have to start out taking such a big breath, I’ve read posts by people that play on whitecaps that say they actually have to expell unused air, and then take in a fresh breath, because the air requirements are so low.
I suspect that I was just letting myself get too low on air, and my crouched posture wasn’t helping either. It so happens that I was playing a whistle that demanded a bit more air when the fiddler first pointed it out. Then I started noticing it, and it happens on any and all whistles.
It sounds like you’re letting your lungs get too empty before you refill. You may be trying to play longer passages than necessary without a breath. As you get more comfortable with tunes and with playing, you’ll discover more good places to fill up. Don’t overfill. Too much or too little air in your lungs and you’ll have a harder time controlling how you let it out.
Tony
When you breathe “normally” (like when drawing a breath to speak) you aren’t supporting with your diaphragm. It sounds like when you keep your lungs “well filled with air” that you are actually getting the sensation of using the diaphragm. This would explain the difference in sound. Keep that sensation and support your wind column. Try standing up and playing for a while, it has helped me in the past. Also try sitting on the edge of your chair, if you want to sit.
Robin
Practicing while lying flat on the floor seems to help me, and I prefer to whistle standing up, but I have no trouble now playing sitting as long as I sit up straight and don’t slouch.
I have to stand up or lie down to get anything out of a flute.
I know several singers who practice while lying on the floor. They say it really helps. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think I’m going to give it a go…breath support has been, ironically, somewhat harder for me since I quit smoking.
Redwolf
I found that I can play much longer phrases since I quit smoking (and the Clarke became my fave whistle at about that time).
I play an a whistle for a drone on certain Scottish tunes we do and I can play the bell note almost through an entire turn of the tune. I take a breath during the last phrase and come in again on the downbeat of A part. I just have to remember to take an early breath when we end the tune.