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Re: [teacherartexchange] clay whistle help

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From: Marvin Bartel (marvinpb_at_TeacherArtExchange)
Date: Thu Jan 15 2009 - 05:40:59 PST

>chris massingill wrote:
>
>I am looking for some clay whistle advice . . .

The whistle sound is produced when the air hits the sharp edge. The sharp edge must be located directly in front of the air stream so that it splits the air to produce the sound. Popsicle sticks are too thick. I make the slot very carefully with a fettling knife blade. I like to taper it so the slot gets thinner at the exit end. This increases the velocity of the air that is directed at the sharp edge. The sharp edge is about 3/8 of an inch away from the slot.

Clay whistles can be tested when the clay is leatherhard, but the pitch changes as the whistle continues to shrink during drying and firing. Having a couple of hair dryers handy can quickly stiffen critical part of the whistle a bit to test whistles. The underbody hollow part of the whistle can be closed, it can have finger holes that alter the pitch, or it can be a long pipe (with or without holes).

A cross-section picture is worth more than a verbal description. A web search will bring up several good pages that illustrate basic clay whistles.

I require that each whistle is a unique shape or has unique decoration that reflects the individuals own interests and expertise (if it is intended as a gift, it may be based on the recipient). If my students have not had experience in originating design ideas, I do not show them examples, but I use a team process where they list ideas. An idea generation process is described on this page:
www.goshen.edu/art/ed/self.html
This page is also list ways to get ideas without showing examples:
www.bartelart.com/arted/sources-of-ideas.html
 
I had a college student, Eugene Stutzman, who was also a musician. He invented and created a single octave stoneware pipe organ using tall ceramic slab pipes. His pipes were fine tuned after firing by leaving a slot near the open (top) end. After firing, the pitch of each pipe was fine tuned by filling in part of the slot with solid material like wood and epoxy putty. Auto body patch, etc. would also work. Each pipe includes a whistle at the bottom. Stutzman added a length of flexible tubing to supply air to each whistle. He attached to a clay mouth piece to each hose. Each mouthpiece included a flashlight bulb. A student was assigned to each mouthpiece. Stutzman, made a keyboard that switched on the bulbs as he played the keyboard. To produce melodies and harmonies the student assistants blew into their whistle whenever their light came on based on his keyboard switches. Stutzman also designed and made a cushion for each assistant and himself.

Marvin 

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