Klarinet Archive - Posting 000022.txt from 1996/03

From: Everett J Austin <BrendaA624@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: flutter tongue
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 01:44:47 -0500

Teri Herel wrote:

<If we can't get you to roll R's no-how, then try flutter tonguing by using
the back of your tongue near the throat onto the back roof of your mouth.
(If anyone can explain this better, please do!) It's not as "nice" but will
do in a pinch.

Teri Herel>

For anyone interested, this is the method recommended by the French
clarinetist Guy Dangain in his (untranslated) book La Clarinette. The uvula
vibrates against the back of the tongue (like gargling). I had thought that
rolling the tip of the tongue to be the standard technique. Oddly, Dangain
does not mention that method! Somehow, this does not seem like material for
an impassioned debate, however!
As a related comment, for those in search of an esoteric challenge, I read in
The Clarinet awhile back HR Stalder commenting that it was very difficult to
circular breathe and fluttertongue at the same time...

Everett Austin
Fairfax, California