Klarinet Archive - Posting 001043.txt from 1998/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Position of tongue
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 10:27:48 -0400

> From: Shouryu Nohe [mailto:jnohe@-----.edu]
> Well, tongue position stays relatively the same - from what I can tell,
> you don't actually move the tongue, but rather, open the back of the
> throat more (but it feels like you're moving your tongue in the back).

There is big controversy regarding tongue position.........but studies
that involve xrays of clarinetists as they play show that the tongue does
in fact move. (I've seen the xrays, but can't quote the
study......someone else who knows may be able to provide the info?).

The throat does not open and close. The muscle in the throat (the tongue)
does - that is - changes position to allow the throat to be more open or
closed. Michele Gingras wrote a terrific article in the early '90s
regarding tongue position and the use of syllables for establishing tongue
position. Beyond that, a concentrated study of the overtones/harmonics
and how how tongue positon works to allow those notes to sound on a given
fundamental pitch is a common study model for both clarinet and saxophone.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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