Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 1995/06

From: Neil Leupold <Neil_Leupold@-----.COM>
Subj: RE>Tongue position
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 1995 16:19:57 -0400

ntouch Memo 06/16/95
Subject:RE>Tongue position 12:53 PM
Tom Ascher wrote:

"I think I'm trying to do something that's impossible"

Tom, what you've been taught about tongue position can only be an approximation
of proper form and technique. Instructions like "keep the back of the tongue
high in the mouth" and "the tip should be very close to the reed at all times"
are just general relative directions, intended to give you a basic
understanding of what constitutes correct tongue position. I, too, once took
the instructions very literally, which was good in the beginning. But then I
began to pay closer attention to my own physical sensations and ultimately
developed an _empirical_ understanding of the correct technique, based on my
own anatomical make-up. People's bodies differ in many ways, and that includes
the shape of the oral cavity, dental configuration, and length/shape of the
tongue. The guidelines you've been given should be viewed as a sort of
"crutch", a way for you to experiment within a given set of parameters until,
either by conscious consideration or through intuition (or both), you determine
what works best for you individually.

My experience: Yes, the back of the tongue should be kept relatively high in
the back of the mouth. This is for the purpose of focusing the air, but
there's more to it. In order to effect the proper contour, it's very helpful
to form a particular vowel sound which will automatically make the tongue do
what it's supposed to do. Some have suggested "too" or "do". I recommend
"teeww", much like the German "u". This has the effect of both raising the
back of the tongue AND placing the tip in close proximity to the reed. As with
any new skill, playing while forming this vowel sound will feel odd at first,
and it still isn't the entire solution. Again, it's just a basic guideline and
must be done in tandem with proper breathing technique and relaxation in order
to reap its full benefit.

It's really necessary to study privately on a consistent basis, in my opinion,
in order to receive continuous helpful guidance on this issue. Even as I sit
here attempting to explain it, I find myself considering all of the other
factors and components which must also be in operation in order for the tongue
to work correctly. As Clark Fobes indicated, some things are best learned
intuitively because explaining them component-by-component is simply too
complicated. Good verbal instructions combined with consistent hands-on
practice will yield the result you're looking for.