Klarinet Archive - Posting 000305.txt from 1996/02

From: Donald Yungkurth <DYungkurth@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Lazy Tongue
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 09:39:48 -0500

Cathleen Renee Orr <orrcathl@-----.EDU> asks about lazy tongue:

>Hi everyone, I'm having difficulty tongueing (ok, enough >innuendo...)

>I am in concert band at MSU and we are playing Samuel >Barber's Commando
March. At one point, the piece >requires 16th notes articulated. The tempo
indication on >the piece is quarters at 144, our director is saying >138-ish,
which really isn't any easier, IMHO. I have been >spending quite a bit of
time with my metronome, and I >can't do it. I am rather frustrated since I
can say " ta ta >ta ta..." at the tempo with no difficulty, but once I have
>my horn in my mouth, the response is slow and it seems >like I can't tongue
as fast as I did before. Also, the notes >are pretty high (leger line E )
and they sound squeaky. >What's up? Would a harder reed help?

I don't have any advice on getting the tongue to move faster, but, at least
for me, the problem is usually with the reed rather than the tongue. If I
have a reed that responds well in all registers, but doesn't allow rapid
staccato, I can usually improve the situation by thinning slightly the very
tip of the reed, i. e., the last 1/32 inch. This works for me, but I don't
suggest you try it with your best reed immediately! Experiment on some
others first.

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