Klarinet Archive - Posting 000361.txt from 1995/06

From: Brenda Williams <Brenda.Williams@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Tongue position - again!
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 1995 18:58:16 -0400

>Interesting with all this dialogue about how we learn....I'm still looking
>for an answer to my question about tongue position.

Tom,

Regarding tongue position:

The tongue is in contact with the upper molars when producing a
characteristiclly centered clarinet tone. The use of the word "anchored"
seems too rigid, as the degree of contact varies somewhat between high and
low notes on the clarinet. This high tongue position, which is similar to
speech, allows for a very free and unrestricted flow of air. The only
change in the tongue from speech to playing is to allow room for the
mouthpiece in the mouth.

This forward and high position's advantage is most apparent when playing,
for example, the solo from Pines of Rome. The dim. of A" will not
break/produce a multiphonic if the tongue is properly placed. This will be
even more apparent on B" and C".

Tonguing a quarter inch from the tip of the reed seems excessive. Closer to
the tip will probably give a clearer, cleaner attack. Try Howard Klug's
advice, "The upper part of the tip of the tongue on the lower part of the
tip of the reed".

Regards,
Floyd Williams
Queensland Conservatorium of Music

>One person says to articulate a "too". Another says no, do a "doo".
>Another says press the back of the tongue up against the insides of the
>molars. I ask: is the tongue ANCHORED against the molars, i.e., does it
>stay there all the time, or just when hitting the reed, or just when not
>hitting the reed, and there is NO ANSWER....
>
>My (former) teacher kept saying "keep the tongue up". What part of
>the tongue? The front? Middle? Back? Sides? Where is the tip when
>not hitting the reed? Against the back of the lower teeth? Against the
>back of the upper teeth? Suspended in the middle?
>
>Is there a drawing, x-ray, or something somewhere that shows this?
>
>My present hunch about what should be happening with the tongue is that
>it should be pulled back with the lower jaw extended downwards and forwards
>somewhat. The tongue should be in an "S" curve when viewed from the side
>so the very back of the tongue is down, it curves upward toward the roof
>of the mouth in the mid-back/middle, then curves downward toward the front,
>then back up to the tip of the tongue.
>
>When viewed from the back (or front) the middle section is curved so that
>the sides are raised against the insides of the molars and they tend to
>move up and touch or rest against the molars more pronounced at the moment
>when the tip of the tongue is "tonguing" against the reed about 1/4" from
>the tip of the reed/mouthpiece tip.
>
>This is MY impression of what I presently do or try to do. But I'm
>looking for guidance and I'm curious as to whether this description seems
>generally accurate and if I should work toward ALWAYS keeping the mid-back
>sides of my tongue ANCHORED against the inside of the molars even between
>hits against the reed. I'm wondering if this is what my former teacher
>meant when she kept saying "keep your tongue up". It was her contention
>that you never see or feel the throat move because your tongue (back of
>tongue?) is not moving.
>
>
>=====================================================================
>Tom Ascher Internet: u15310@-----.edu
>University of Illinois at Chicago Phone: (312) 413-3665
>
>