Piece Selection
Q: Due to a difficult piece I can not play fully some parts for my choosing piece. Even so, should I choose this piece to get higher-points?
A: If you can not play fully, probably, you will get minus-points more than plus-points. But if you choose too easy piece compare with your ability, the result will be the same.
Q: While choosing a song, which piece is better? Vocal piece (song) or instrumental?
A: It will depends on chosen piece. If you choose the vocal song, it is better to avoid to repeat same performance for each verse.
Q: I can not whistle the highest-note ( or lowest-note) of my piece.
A: It is better to change key. Especially highest-note, it is remarkable.
Q:Is it better to choose “well-known” piece?
A: You can choose any pieces.
Q: How can I get high-points?
A: Recommend to follow plus checkpoints issues and to avoid lengthy arrangement.
Microphone
Q: I have no experience to whistle with microphone. Is it disadvantage?
A: Yes, because sometime it is cause to make brow noise, breath noise or bad volume-control. Recommend to have practice with microphone.
Q: Regarding microphone handling, which is better, handheld or using mic-stand?
A: Choose whichever you like. If you use mic-stand, adjust the mic position before starting your performance and avoid to touch mic during performance because of making noise.
Accompaniment
Q: Is it judgement issue, volume-balance between whistling and accompaniment?
A: It is sound-system issue, not judgement issue.
Q: In case of recorded accompaniment, is it judgement issue, the quality of accompaniment?
A: It is not effect to judgement directory but it relates deeply to quality of your performance. Recommend to improve quality of your accompaniment as much as you can.
Expression
Q: I can whistle very loud. Is it my advantage?
A: It is judged by the sound using microphone, it is not always advantage. More important thing is dynamics and control. Moreover, generally, very loud whistling makes more noise. It is better to pay attention for point deducted of tone quality.
Q: How much vibrato is appropriate?
A: It depents on genre and era. Recommend to avoid inappropriate using vibrato such as using same style vibrato via whole piece or too much vibrato, it is caused of point deducted.
Technique
Q: Can I get point if I use some kind of technique such as warbling?
A: If your performance quality is improved by those technique, you can get point more but if it have bad effect on pitch, rhythm or etc., perhaps, you get more deducted point.
Q: Can I use inhale-whistling, roof-whistling or tooth-whistling?
A: You can use those methods. Generally, those methods makes more noise. It is better to pay attention for point deducted of tone quality.
Other
Q: A Capella is a beautiful way of using whistling. Why it is not allowed except in Allied Arts
A: A Capella can often result in beautiful performances, and it’s a great way to hear the whistling alone. It requires skill because you have to adhere to the proper pitch, tempo, and rhythm on your own. With accompaniment, it is a slightly different skill set: You have to follow along and cooperate with the pitch and rhythm of the accompaniment. While a capella is beautiful when done properly, it would be too difficult to judge impartially if we were to mix those two different styles of performance. The judges need to be able to “compare apples to apples” in order that every whistler is judged fairly; therefore, everyone must use accompaniment.
Q: In 2014, the title of the event was “IWC.” Why did you change the title?
A: We were negotiating to use the title “IWC” and continue on that tradition, but we were unable to secure the rights. Due to trademark and copyright legal restrictions, the right to use the title of “International Whistlers Convention” with the familiar musical clef symbol could not be transferred under United States law. So, we agreed to change the title and inherited the style and format of the competition from IWC. But we carry on into the future in the same spirit — this Convention is an event where the best whistlers on the planet come together from all over the globe to share their musical gifts and to compete, in order to promote the fine art of whistling as a world class musical instrument.
(170917 updated)