always possible to get beter?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andreas Iversen on November 13, 2008 at 5:22am

Absolutely yes. I've been getting better and better since I started whistling.

Been whistling for as long as I can remember but didn't really think about getting better until I accidentally (?) discovered the warble some 8-9 years ago when I was serving my time in the navy. Then some 6 years or so later, I discovered Roger Whittaker on youtube whistling "Mexican Whistler" and I was blown away by the control, this made me concentrate even more on whistling since I now had a "goal" to be able to whistle that tune.

Recently, I discovered our fellow member of whistlersnet, Geert Chatrou, on youtube whistling Fete de la Belle, and I was yet again blown away. This time by the combination of pitch, purity and warble at the same time.

For me, a great catalyst is the setting of a goal. Roger and Geert has provided me with that :-)

Now, in 2008.. I can definitely say I'm way WAY better than I was in 2000. But still have to take care of the stage fright and the "fear" of microphones, hehe.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alexander Schielke on October 31, 2008 at 4:22am

Thank all of you for the answers. I share the opinion that it is great that even pros take the time to give some advise. And the advice to search for new songs and challenges cheers me up even more because thats exactly what I thought would be the best.
One further comment: I got the question because I saw an advice how to warble on youtube and after a few hours I got different tunes but it sure will still take a lot of time but I was not sure wether the jaw and the tongue had to hurt that much in the end. But now I know that they just have to be trained.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Santucci on October 31, 2008 at 12:31am

Ha ha ha!! I didn't even think about it when I was writing this, but yes, I can see how you could end up going that direction with what I said, Geert. Too funny!! If someone else had posted it, and if I was the one reading it, my sick mind would do the same thing too.

By they way, I also wanted to thank you for posting your advice here for us non-professionals; it is really great and I appreciate it very much. Same goes for all the pros on here who are posting. Thanks!

Cheers! --Dave

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Geert Chatrou on October 30, 2008 at 5:51pm

Dave, you realy make me laugh. In my sick mind a lot of things come up now, but not appropriate to say here.
Anyway and seriously: there are more things to do to get better: Know a little bit about music and the period it was written in. For example: DON'T whistle a baroque piece with the wrong emballishments or ornamentation, that wasn't meant in that period. Whistle a piece in the tempo it was ment to be in, if you can't manage that, don't do it. I hear Alla Turcka or Badinerie in andante tempo, don't do that, the pianist wouldn't do that either.
Or music from the romantic period without 'feel' and your interpretation, it is meant to be so.
Hey, don't get me wrong, do whatever you like but if you want to be taken seriously with for example classical musicians, you need to be aware of some of this stuff.
(BTW, I like whistling Badinerie in a jazz style, wrong if you read what I just said, but hey, I want to have some fun, that's what whistling is all about)
Okay, I stop this post now, because I don't understand what I'm writing anymore myselfe...
Best Geert

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Santucci on October 30, 2008 at 4:41pm

I agree, yes you can always get better. Whistling is like any other talent or ability; the more you do it, and the more focus and effort you put into it, the better you will get. I have been whistling since I was about four years old, and I am much better now than I was just a few years ago, and at that time I was much better than I was a few years before that.

There may be physical limitations; if you had no tongue, for example, you probably could not warble or do other "special effects." And if you had no lower jaw, or if your windpipe was not connected to your mouth (you know, like after a tracheotomy), well obviously that would present serious problems. I'm kidding, of course. I sense you do not have any of these problems or you wouldn't be trying to whistle in the first place.

So assuming you aren't missing any of the major equipment, my answer is yes, you can always get better. I can't recommend a school or teacher; never heard of any either. But, listen to others, watch their videos, ask them questions like "how did you do that one part...?" but the bottom line is, you have to experiment and find what works best for you, and the more you play with those techniques, the better you will become. Practice, practice, practice! This is the key to improving skill -- any skill. Also, listening to music and trying to whistle various songs to challenge yourself, this will also help you improve.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by gabor on October 30, 2008 at 2:59pm

Hello!

That is my problem or question also. Is there a place, a school, a teacher (possibly is Europe) where some one can study, improve whistling. Where a pro can give a feedback - Yes, you hava a talent, or no you dont't. What can be and necessary to improve, what kind of technic fitt to me and so on.
Still now I could not find such a school, or teaher.
Anyone has a good idea?

Regards,
Gábor

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Geert Chatrou on October 30, 2008 at 10:41am

Hi Alexander,
I think the answer is yes, you can always get better. I now whistle pieces that I couldn't whistle (well enough) a few years back. I think it has to do with consciousnes in my case. I always whistled along, not being aware of whistling. When you have to study a requested piece for a concert, I have to pay more attention of what I'm doing and that makes me more concentrated... and better.
More whistling is getting better in my case. But I also think it has to do with talent. I'm asked several times if I could be a teacher, the answer is no. Why? I don't know exactly how I whistle, and that makes it hard to explain it to 'students'

Good luck,

Geert

▶ Reply to This