Introduction: Bear Whistles! Bird Whistles! How to Build Sculptures That Sing.

There is something magical about taking a soft piece of earth/clay and making it whistle. This Instructable you will walk you through the steps of making a clay whistle.




You'll need clay and a few tools :

soft earthenware clay
Popsicle or other similar flat, wooden stick
sharpened pencil
palette knife or other small carving knife
needle tool; used to remove bits of clay from the airway of the whistle; scoring when attaching pieces of clay
round tool for making tone/note holes.
carving tools;  small ribbon tools and stamps for decoration/ texture.

Step 1: Forming the Whistle

Begin with a round ball of clay. The size will determine the tone of the whistle, the larger the piece of clay, the larger the chamber, the lower the tone.

Cradle the ball of clay in the palm of one hand, pressing the thumb of your other hand into the ball to open up the clay. Press until you  feel pressure against the palm of your hand holding the clay. 

With your fingers on the outside of the ball of clay and your thumb on the inside, begin pinching and turning the ball of clay, working from the bottom towards the top. Thinning the wall of the chamber as you go. The goal is to turn and pinch in such a way that the wall of the whistle is about 1/4" thick or thinner and even on all sides.  

Step 2: Closing the Chamber

Alternating between pinching and smoothing, slowly work on the opening in the chamber until it is closed and the form is sealed.
Note: You can use a small piece of clay to fill the hole, if needed.

Step 3: Tap the Hollow Ball / Chamber on the Table.

The bottom of the whistle needs to be flat. This will enable you to add the mouthpiece and create the bevel that a whistle requires in order to make sound. Gently tap the hollow ball of clay on the table until it is flat.

Let the clay firm up for about 25 min. (In a hurry? You can dry your piece with a hairdryer, for 5 min.)
Why? The next step will be to attach the mouthpiece and alter the chamber so your whistle, whistles. Clay that is too soft will be difficult to work with. 

Step 4: Making and Attaching the Mouthpiece

Roll out a coil of clay about the diameter of your finger. One inch long. This will be used for the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece will be attached so it lines up with the flattened bottom of the whistle.

Score the two pieces of clay where they join with a needle tool and smooth the mouthpiece onto the body of the whistle.
Note: This is the time to trim the length of the mouthpiece, if it seems too long.

Step 5: Making It Whistle! Part One; Making the Sound Hole



Part One: Making the sound hole / Beginning the bevel.
Use the sharpened end of the pencil and insert it so it creates an opening along the inside wall of the chamber. Push the pencil in far enough to create a sound hole that is the diameter of the pencil. Then tilt the pencil back, away from the mouthpiece and rock it from side to side to begin creating a bevel.




Step 6: Making It Whistle - Part Two and Three

Part 2: Making an airway in the mouthpiece to the chamber.
You will take the Popsicle stick and insert it in the center of the mouthpiece and push it straight-back into the chamber of the whistle. You should be able to see the wooden stick through the sound hole you just made with the pencil.
Keep it horizontal.

Part 3: Finishing the bevel.
With the Popsicle stick still in place take your palette knife and carve the bevel; work to make it a sharp angle. (see close-up direction below) 





Step 7: Making It Whistle....Almost Done!

When you have a bevel carved; pull the popsicle out of the airway. Clean any small bits of clay that block the airways. Gently blow into the mouthpiece of your whistle to see if it makes sound.

It whistles! Congratulations! You can go on to the next step.

No sound???
Troubleshooting tips:

No sound? ( Keep your chin up...this is very common the first few times you make a whistle.) Insert the popsicle stick into the mouthpiece again to clear any clay that might be blocking airways. Remember the stick needs to go straight back into the whistle.  
You might need to make the bevel sharper.
The sound is weak or airy? - Check again for any clay that might be blocking the airway.

Play around and adjust until you get a strong, clear sound from your whistle.

Step 8: Decorating and Sculpting Your Whistle

After creating the basic form of your whistle and getting it to make sound, you can sculpt and embellish the form. A few suggestions:

Add pieces of clay to create bird and animal whistles.
Create texture by pressing into the clay with various objects.
Carve designs and patterns with small knives or ribbon tools.

Step 9: Adding an Additional Tone or Note

You can add an additional tone and make your whistle a two or three note whistle by making additional holes on either side of your whistle. Use a pencil or similar sized dowel and drill a hole in the side of your whistle; this will allow you to play two or more different notes.

Additional holes can be added; depending on the size and shape of your whistle.

Step 10: Last Steps...

Earthenware clay is allowed to dry slowly over about a week. Immediately after finishing your whistle, cover it loosely with plastic. After a day or so; uncover your whistle and allow it to finish drying. 

Firing: Earthenware clay is traditionally fired or bisqued in a kiln; to make it more durable. After the bisque you may want to paint or glaze your whistle. Use care around the bevel and airway of the whistle.

The whistles shown here were made with cone 10, white stoneware clay. After they were bisqued, an iron oxide/colbalt stain was applied and they fired a second time to cone 10, in a reduction gas kiln.

Additional resources:
Hall, Barry. From Mud to Music; making and enjoying ceramic musical instruments.The American Ceramic Society. 2006

Ellis, Mary.Ceramics for Kids; Creative Clay Projects to Pinch, Roll, Coil, Slam & Twist. Lark Books. 2004

Moniot, Janet. Clay Whistles: The Voice of Clay. The Whistle Press. March, 1990.

Mary Stone - Vermont Whistle-maker.

anniepots ; My blog.  

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