Hello all!!
I have a question: just last night I “broke through” into the 2nd octace on my Walton D whistle. Meaning…I was able to play all the way up to the 3rd D. Now in doing this, it requires “faster air” to reach these notes. However, in doing so…the volume increases. My question is this - when producing this “faster air”, is it still possible to keep normal volume or does it have to stay really loud? Is this a characteristic of whistles?
Could someone please enlighten me?
Rob
Hi rap4th
Lets see if I can help you.
When playing, I found myself wanting to decrease the volume of the upper notes as well. Decreasing breath just above where it will break back into the 1st octave helps, but I found something else as well.
I figured this out from my efforts to play the recorder. On the recorder there is a thumbhole that you have to slide your thumb off of to hit the next octave notes. It also brings the next octave volume lower.
But the Whistle doesn’t have a thumbhole. So I experimented with partially opening the top hole on the whistle. That did it.
if you half hole the top hole on the whistle while your playing in the second octave it will decrease the volume. Listen for when you do it too much.
It has helped me quiet down the notes up to High A, High B still shrills for me, but I’m figuring out how to stop that (nothing consistent yet)
Hope that helps
Grexrell, I think you mentioned this once before. Is there a chance you could post a clip of your playing with this technique?
I understand what you’re describing. Venting the T1 hole sharpens the pitch slightly, so you compensate by underblowing. The net effect is a quieter note. A similar technique is used in recorder playing to produce “stepped” dynamics.
The thing is … I don’t see how it’s really practical on the whistle for playing real dance music at real speeds. The T1 vent is awkward. It interferes with finger motions which should be automatic in muscle-memory. It changes the timbre of the 2nd register for the worse. It turns 2nd register intonation into a guessing game.
For these reasons, I don’t think it’s good advice to another beginning player. But I’m willing to be convinced that I’m wrong … 
On most whistles, the volume increases 20 dB or more from the bottom to the top of the range. It’s a natural characteristic of the instrument, and can be enjoyed as such. And there are embouchure techniques of “feathering” the breath by closing down the aperture through angling or tightening that reduce can volume without interfering with fingering.
Hmmm…I thought the half hole on the L1 would change the note so I don’t think I will try that. My lesson from my tutor gave me enough to try and tackle last night…learning pats and rolls (he was happy that I have cuts down really well ). He also confirmed what MTGuru stated…it does get quite louder in the 2nd octave. The good thing about me breaking though into the 2nd octave and realizing the embouchure and speed of the air…I was able to incorporate that over to my Susato whistle…and I played it much better!!
I also was introduced to my first polka song last night that I have to practice until my next lesson. If I do that well enough…I will move on to my first reel!! My tutor are I taking the speed slow on the polka (thank goodness) and the reel. He assured me that in time the speed will get faster with practice. I was just so excited on how impressed my tutor was on how well I played the songs (Down By The Sally Gardens & Dawning of the Day) he wanted me to learn (with cuts) and how quick I learn.
Oops…sorry…I got off subject.
Rob
The Harmonic registers are overblown by the player because he/she increases the velocity of the airstream to “cancel” the first (or second) register. Because whistles rely on the Kinetic Energy formula…
E = 0.5mv squared
…any increase in “v” or velocity, will also increase “E” or loudness. By adding a rounded or bulbous leading edge to the labium ramp or by increasing the internal “back-pressure” a whistle maker can drastically reduce the amount of breath needed to create oscillations and thus reduce the velocity/loudness in the upper registers.
Tweaks? Add a small bead of clear nail polish to the leading edge of the ramp and reduce the bore end hole with some tape.
Related note: Recorders cancel the fundamental frequency by pinching open the thumbhole. If this Blasphemous instrument had a more cylindrical bore, it could quietly reach the 4th register (3rd octave) with ease.