playing sideways

[ubizmo]

I think it's just an ergonomic thing. The right hand is a bit farther away, so if I angle the whistle a bit to the right, my right arm can be a bit less extended, which is a bit more comfortable. The degree of bend of the left arm is hardly affected. I think it works just as well to simply turn the whole head a little to the right, keeping the mouthpiece in the center of the mouth. There's no law that says you have to play keeping your face pointing the same direction as your belt buckle.

[MTGuru]

There's no law that says you have to play keeping your face pointing the same direction as your belt buckle.

<--- Or your feet.

[kothz]

I'm one of those "Just off centre" kind of players when it comes to the whistle.

When I played in bands, I did it to have a bit more control over where the whistle was in relation to the mic, AND so I could have an ear pointed at where the band was going.

When I play in sessions, I do it to aim the screechy bits at some unsuspecting fiddler, AND so I can have an ear pointed at someone who is driving a set of tunes.

I find it easier to make a little air cushion under my top right cheek that I can use to fill the whistle and circular breathe (breathe circularly?) than if I have the whistle aiming straight out front.

[hoopy mike]

Try playing *really* sideways for fun - like you're playing a flute. The breathiness can be quite nice, but maybe not something to do in public, unless you want to fool the audience!

Stay hoopy,
Mike

[Whiddler]

When I play, my whistle is almost always pointing straight ahead of me, but my face almost never is...