Klarinet Archive - Posting 000126.txt from 1998/11

From: CmdrHerel@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Articulation?
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 13:10:02 -0500

In a message dated 11/5/98 6:28:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
musicgirl82@-----.com writes:

<< I am a junior in High School. I'm the first chair clarinetist in my wind
ensemble, have made the all-county bands since 6th grade, and have just this
year made the New York Area All-State band. Yesterday I started taking private
lessons and I'm very happy with this, but i won't see him for a week and my
problem is bothering me too much. I was wondering if anybody had some pointers
for me as far as tongueing is concerned. I have that problem where my tongue
seems to fill up my mouth and any staccato or accent I try to make comes out
as a "dut dut" rather than a "tut tut". . . heck, it's more of a "ducka
ducka" or worse. Isn't there some kind of thing I can do with my throat for
this? Will opening it work better? I know i sound stupid, but it is really
starting to bother my playing. Anyone's help would be appreciated. >>

No, you do NOT sound stupid. :) In fact, that you're asking the questions
shows that you are anything but.

Articulation. Learning the correct way to use your tongue with your airstream
can take a while. This is something you and your teacher will spend much time
on. The best thing you can do is to be patient, and above all, RELAX.
Because, if you start to get worried about it, you will get tense. If you get
tense, then your throat and muscles will tighten up and you won't be able to
use them the correct way.

And know that in ten years of teaching, I have YET to find a tongue that I
can't fix, (knock on grenadilla!) now matter how bad it was when the student
walked in the door. The best thing you can do is laugh if during the process
you sound like crap. Just relax and do the things your teacher says, even if
you don't see any immediate results.

The first thing I work on for articulation is air. Often a student uses
inadequate air, and without a good airstream, the tongue can't work properly.
Instead of "riding" the tongue on the air column, the student tries to force
the tongue to move. The minute you force it, too much of it moves. The less
you think about actually moving your tongue, and the more you think about
blowing a steady airstream, the more your tongue will relax and just the tip
will move. (The trick to the "t" sounding staccato you are after.)

Beyond that, you and your teacher will have to work together. Don't make
yourself crazy working on it for long periods of time. I'd say no more than
ten minutes a day. (But ten minutes a day adds up fast!) And also, mix those
ten minutes into the rest of your practicing so your tongue doesn't get
fatigued. Do like two minutes, then do scales or something, then do another
two minutes, and so on.

Good luck!

Teri Herel.

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