Klarinet Archive - Posting 000500.txt from 1995/11

From: Donald Yungkurth <DYungkurth@-----.COM>
Subj: articulation
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 12:36:06 -0500

Julianne Kirk wrote:

>Anyone have any tips on staccato articulation. I am trying >to really focus
on the concept of touching the tip of the >tongue to the tip of the reed and
articulating but I can't >get the right sound.

(Balance of note cut)

Many people have responded to this note and most of the comments related to
the mechanics of staccato articulation, so I won't address that. If you are
basically doing everything correctly and seem to be getting less
response/tone etc. than you are comfortable with, I would suggest thinking
about the reed. A reed that seems to do everything well, except staccato,
will often do excellent staccato also, if the very tip is thinned *slightly*.

By thinning the tip, I mean the removing the slightest amount possible with
the reed knife from a band about 1/32 of an inch wide at the tip. Clearly
this is very subtle adjustment. I would not suggest you do this immediately
with your finest reed!

Good luck at the audition.

Don Yungkurth (DYungkurth@-----.com)