Whistling is an excellent way to exercise oral motor muscles and can in turn help with speech production. Many music therapists use whistling and playing oral motor instruments, in addition with singing, to help our clients with speech production or recovery. Don’t worry if whistling is still a bit difficult (I know that I myself am not the best whistler thanks to being a flute player) there are adaptations! My favorite replacement for whistling is the kazoo. This way the voice can be used but the lips are still getting stimulation from the vibrations of the instrument. Start with a kazoo and work your way up to whistling! Either way you go, pick a good song and have a good time 🙂 Here are my TOP 9 Whistling songs that I have used with a variety of ages and populations!
2. Home- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
3. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life- Monty Python
4. Don’t Worry Be Happy- Bobby McFerrin
5. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay- Otis Redding (whistle part at 2:19)
6. Pumped Up Kicks- Foster the People (whistle part at 2:53)
7. Whistle While You Work– Disney’s Snow White
8. Whistle Stop– Roger Miller (Also seen on Disney’s Robin Hood and more recently known as the Hamster Dance)
9. We Are Done– The Madden Brothers
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