I confess I may show some ignorance in this question, but I’m okay with that.
In my head, I see whistle playing in two categories: solo or rhythm as in typical trad tunes, and in a supporting or background style like in movies, using a counter-melody or harmonizing. My question relates to the volume of the instrument and how it seems to me on music where I here the whistle “in the background” and playing in the second octave, I’m thinking the volume has to be mixed down to get that effect.
As an example, if I play along with a CD of my favorite band, where the whistle is a key instrument, I can be relatively sure that I can maintain similar volume (depending on the whistle of course). But let’s say I’m trying to follow a whistle part in the LOTR soundtrack, where the whistle is “in the background” and in the upper octave. I know to get to those notes that my volume is much greater, even if I use a narrow bore. In a setting like that, realistically, the instrument is being played with an orchestra, in a large hall, maybe not even mic’d so that the recording is the ambient sound from the whistle as heard in the mix of other instruments.
Does my question make any sense? I’m sure Tony can answer this question, but I thought I’d post this in case anyone else was wondering the same thing.
There is a purpose in my question . . . mainly to wrap my brain around the idea that certain styles of playing are better left to playing in larger rooms or halls to get the sound you want, that you (or at least I) can’t get in my house, in my room, without driving my wife nuts in the other room as I practice the same melody over and over and over to get it right . . . and if anyone has ideas on the best way to practice quieter without sacrificing method and styling, well, I’d like to hear it . . .
i totally understand and agree with what you said. regarding playing quieter while practicing. i’d sure like to hear what other folks have to say. all i can say on that topic is that my wife and especially the dog where pleased as all get out when i picked up the flute. i can play the flute while they’re sleeping.
Glad to hear from you mutepointe . . . which brings up another thought . . . that you can never yourself, in realtime, as you sound from a distance, because your ears are right there!
As far as playing quieter goes, this works for me, I’ve posted it several times, but one more won’t hurt much. I use tape to cover part of the windway, which cuts down the volume drastically. You can usually cover up to about half the width before it starts getting squirrely. It uses the same amount of air and the whistle responds almost exactly the same up until that point. Electrical tape works well, it can be re-used several times, and doesn’t tend to rip or leave residue.
Couldn’t resist this one. You’re right, in that movie scores are recorded in large expensive studios, where an expensive engineer knows exactly where to place his (or her) expensive microphones and which expensive effects units to process the entire thing through. Driving your wife nuts is NOT RECOMMENDED. This is a perennial problem for whistle practice in a domestic setting (unlike other instruments where a practice mute can be applied), and my only suggestion is to soundproof your garage/garden shed/linen cupboard and set yourself up with a decent mike, decent headphones and a decent reverb unit (set on “Large Hall”) and take it from there - just like electric players do with their Rockmans etc. Things could be worse. You could play the Highland Pipes. I learned all the pipe tunes I know from a guy practising them on the laundry floor of a 20 storey block of flats round the corner from my parents’ house in Glasgow. You could hear him from 5 miles away.
This sounds funny, but my wife has three “crafty” Christmas trees of different sizes–artificial, but very handsome. After Christmas I dragged them into my practice room (which also happens to contain our bed!) to mute sound. It works! I also open the closet doors behind me so our hanging clothes absorb sound.
A bonus: When the lights are out, it’s almost like sleeping in the woods!
This could be called “eccentric.”
Big Chief . . . thanks for not resisting this one I was hoping you might say something like that, but wasn’t 100% sure. You see I love the whistle in both environments, but it’s the “large hall” environment that sometimes make me wish I could be the one “out there” hearing me, since I do think the whistle is beautiful when it appears to fly out of nowhere, like a dove flying through the air . . . .
I do use a Boss RV-3 delay/reverb pedal which does a great job, so long as the sound man in our church does his part. I found that it’s the most affordable way to do this (for me), especially since I bought off a guitar buddy. Now, I hope to get an Ernie Ball VP Jr. volume expression pedal. I tried one of those from the same friend, and it allows for great fade ins and such. Thanks also for you openess to sharing your experience with us through your web site. Great stuff!
Riverman, what do you mean you could be eccentric?
. . . and if anyone has ideas on the best way to practice quieter without sacrificing method and styling, well, I’d like to hear it . . .
I was hoping you might say something like that, but wasn’t 100% sure. You see I love the whistle in both environments, but it’s the “large hall” environment that sometimes make me wish I could be the one “out there” hearing me, since I do think the whistle is beautiful when it appears to fly out of nowhere, like a dove flying through the air . . . .