Introduction and Definitions

• Whistling defined as forcing air through mouth through narrow passage with pursed lips
• Pucker whistling most common form
• No genetic basis for inability to whistle - just lack of practice
• Josh and Chuck both whistle regularly, Chuck wondered if it annoyed office colleagues

Types of Whistling

• Pucker whistle: Most common, lips pursed, tongue at back of roof of mouth
• Palatal whistling: Tongue on roof of mouth, different technique
• Finger whistle: Using fingers, creates loud taxi-calling sound
• Throat whistling: Mouth open, no puckered lips, strange appearance

Historical Origins and Development

• Possible proto-language theory - whistling may have preceded speech
• Julian Meyer (bioacoustician): whistling requires less brain power than speech
• Neolithic age people used bone whistles, possibly Neanderthals too
• Ancient Greeks and Romans whistled to express displeasure (still done in Europe)
• Herodotus described Ethiopian community with whistle-based language
• Whistling languages discovered on every continent

Professional Whistling Era

• Late 19th century Vaudeville featured whistling acts
• First half of 20th century had many whistling performers
• Names like Ronnie Ronalde, Muzzy Marcelino
• 1949: Ronnie Ronalde sold out Radio City Music Hall for 10 weeks (6,000 capacity)
• 1909: Agnes Woodward California School of Artistic Whistling opened
• Clients included John Wayne, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby

Decline and Cultural Shift

• Whistling acts disappeared almost overnight
• General whistling as pastime also declined simultaneously
• Attributed to transistor radio, then Walkman, then iPod
• People no longer needed to create own entertainment/music
• Bad reputation in 1800s UK - stores banned whistling due to pickpocket communication

Contemporary Whistlers

• Marge Carlson (1990s): "America's Sweetheart of Bird Song," released Christian whistling albums
• Molly Lewis: Contemporary professional whistler, EP "The Forgotten Edge," performs live concerts, featured on CBS Sunday Morning, whistled on Barbie soundtrack
• Chris Ullman: Champion whistler, competitive whistler
• Geert Chatrou: Another champion competitive whistler
• Cirque du Soleil employs whistlers as modern Vaudeville

Famous Whistling in Media

• Movies: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (Alessandro Alexandroni), "To Have and Have Not" Lauren Bacall line, "Kill Bill" Twisted Nerve theme
• TV: Andy Griffith Show theme, Snow White "Whistle While You Work"
• Songs: Walk Like an Egyptian, Dock of the Bay, Winds of Change, Me and Julio, Don't Worry Be Happy, Patience (Guns N' Roses)
• Voice acting: Jason Serinus (Woodstock in Peanuts), Dee Bradley Baker (animated characters)

Whistling Languages and Communication

• Whistled versions of local languages for long-distance communication
• Whistle travels 550m vs 40m for speech, 120m for shouting
• Used in mountainous regions for practical communication
• Wolf whistle originated as shepherd warning call, evolved to street harassment
• France banned wolf whistling in 2018 with €750 fine
• Greater honey guide birds in Tanzania/Mozambique respond to human whistling

Superstitions

• Universal superstition across cultures: whistling in dark/after nightfall summons spirits/demons
• Found in Polynesia, Iceland, Hawaii, Mexico, Hong Kong, Scandinavia
• Suggests very ancient superstition due to widespread cultural presence

Technique and Science

• Helmholtz chamber: Resonance chamber formed by mouth
• Tongue pressed against bottom teeth, back of tongue at roof of mouth
• Air forced through smaller to larger to smaller openings
• Subtle tongue movements create different pitches and tones
• Chris Ullman's 4 steps: Form O-shape, press tongue tip to bottom teeth, blow gently (not hard), practice

Vocal Whistling Register

• Mariah Carey: Famous for whistle register (highest vocal register)
• Also called flute register - pitches normally only made by flutes/whistles
• Minnie Riperton: Another famous whistle register singer
• Christina Aguilera: Also has whistle range capability

Competitions and Records

• Lewisburg/Louisburg College Folk Festival: Started 1973, ended 2014
• Now National Whistlers Convention (morphed from original)
• Masters of Musical Whistling: Pasadena competition created by Carolan Kaufman (2020, returning 2025)
• World Records:
  • Most people whistling simultaneously: 853 people (2014, UK Spring Harvest)
  • Loudest whistle: 125 dB (Marco Ferrera 2004, Luca Zocchi 2014)
  • Highest pitch: Joshua Lockard - 10,599 Hz (almost 11 kHz, nearly above audible range)

Medical Case Study

• 1984 British Medical Journal: Stroke patient could only communicate through whistling during recovery
• Patient had elevated mood, whistled instead of speaking while regaining language abilities