Playing in the wind

Whistle
1

I find the Clarke Sweettone works best in the wind. Nothing else that I own comes close.

2

Thanks for the tip. I have tried and sometimes outside it’s impossible to whistle do the the wind.

3

I was on vacation two weeks ago in the Outer Banks where we rent a house once a year for a week on the beach. In prior years I generally played indoors or in a screened in area of the house. This year I tried my Copelands out on the top floor deck, and they are the best in the wind. For some reason, Overtons couldn’t carry in the wind at all, and they are hardly timid. Hmmmm…

Philo

4

Wait..I think i’ve got it, Watson…The big bore cylindrical Overtons have a big opening to allow wind in from the bottom; conical whistles (Copeland and Sweetone) have a tiny opening at the other end and don’t allow much wind back up the chute while you’re blowing into it…

Philo

5

By Jove! …Naw!

The “window” on the Sweettone is very small…ah I dunno.

6

The Susato does very well in the wind too. That’s why I started playing my Susatos so much…the Morris kids were dancing outside, and the wind was so strong, I couldn’t coax a sound out of my Dixon.

Redwolf

7

If you have a two piece whistle, try turning the head backwards ( the whistle head, not yours) if playing in the wind is a problem. It keeps the window out of the breeze and sometimes makes a big difference. Also, you may have to reoirient your body to keep the wind at your back so you protect the whistle from the wind.

8

I found Overtons to be poor for playing in the wind, too.

9

Margie Butler, from the group Golden Bough, did an excellent job performing in 20 mph winds at a recent outdoor concert. She played at least five different whistles of varying makes and sizes with no audible faults!

I asked Ms. Butler about it afterwards and her tip is to orient the whistle so the wind is coming directly you. Trial and error is essential, but a whistler can often find an angle where the instrument can be played. Of course, if the wind is swirling and not steady from one direction, the challenge becomes that much greater.

My own experience playing in the wind is the same as Ms. Butler’s, that there is often an angle where it works and many wind angles where there is nothing.

  • Bill
10

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat a Silkstone for playing in the wind. I’m talking about Paul Hayward’s first offerings, the uPVC models. I’m fortunate enough to have his original model, as well as his revised version, which he graciously gifted to me (thanks again, Paul!!!), and both are totally unbeatable in the wind.

~Larry