Klarinet Archive - Posting 001328.txt from 1998/10

From: Jeff Carwile <carwile@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Anchor Tonguing
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 03:24:00 -0500

RE:

1. Have the student start with the tongue on the reed (tip to tip of
course).
2. Now the student begins to blow while keeping the tongue on the reed.
No
sound will come out and the student will feel the "back pressure" from
the
reed being closed off with the tongue.
3. The student continues to blow and pulls the tongue off then reed.
The
note should speak.
4. The student continues to blow and GENTLY places the tongue back on
the
reed. The sound should stop and once again they should feel the
pressure.
5. Now the student can stop blowing.

As a former anchor tonguer, I believe strongly in Bonade's method.
However I think you might want to be careful about how you word
statement number 2 to your students. I don't really believe the best
articulation is achieved from "the reed being closed off with the
tongue". It is simply touching the reed that produces articulation, I
have found.

When students think of pushing the reed with the tongue to "close" the
reed/mouthpiece opening, particularly after anchor tonguing where they
are used to the tongue motion being larger than typical tip to tip
tonguing, this can be dangerous. Not only might it foster a larger
tongue motion than necessary and a possible "thud" sound, but it could
also imply that air column stops when you articulate.

It is a subtle difference in presentation, but it can make a big
difference to someone who is struggling to change away from anchor
tonguing.

Jeff Carwile
carwile@-----.org

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