Klarinet Archive - Posting 000756.txt from 1998/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Noisy tonguing
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1998 10:08:25 -0400

On Tue, 25 Aug 1998, Dee Hays wrote:
> >From your description, it sounds like she is tonguing by "hitting" the reed
> with her tongue. In reality the term "tonguing" is a misleading misnomer.
> Correct tonguing is accomplished by pulling the tongue off the reed not
> hitting the reed. Here is an exercise to get the hang of it.
>
> 1. Start with the tongue on the reed.
> 2. KEEP THE TONGUE ON THE REED and start to blow. No sound should come out
> yet but you can feel the pressure of the air with your diaphragm.
> 3. Gently pull the tongue off the reed. The student has now correctly
> tongued the note.
> 4. Stop the note by gently placing the tongue back on the reed but keep
> blowing. There is no need to hit the reed.
> 5. Repeat from the top.
>
> Unfortunately many students get the impression that tonguing a note means
> hitting the reed with the tongue. It's a logical deduction from the name so
> who can really blame them.

A fantastic post......this is one most young clarinetists should save.
Nice description Dee.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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