Klarinet Archive - Posting 000763.txt from 1998/12

From: David Renaud <studiorenaud@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tongue"voicing"
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 00:44:42 -0500

SStur24061@-----.com wrote:

> Dave--
>
> I have been experimenting with using different vowel sounds with my students.
> I have them think or voice different vowel sounds in their throats. Most of
> my students' tone colors sound best when voicing an "ou" (sounding as in the
> word "you") type of sound. Two of my students sound better when voicing an
> "ee" (like "me"). I think that mouth cavity size and other elements contained
> in the mouth are the reasons for this difference in these students. I don't
> understand why some sound better voicing one vowel over another. I borrowed
> this technique from my voice lessons, which I took briefly in college.
> Singers use different sounds to help them to obtain different notes.--Kristi
> Sturgeon
>

Kristi

I would be afraid to involve the throat in any of this, I want to keep the
throat
open and relaxed, and use vowel sounds to obtain various tongue shapes. Higher
notes generally benefit from higher tongue position, and vise versa.
Flexibility with this can help me play with tone color.I don't want to get stuck,
learn it, play with it, and then let it happen naturally.

Mark wrote:

"Air speed as changed by the tongue et al. is very minor as compared to
the air speed generated by the very small reed-mouthpiece opening (for a
constant pressure, speed changes inversely with opening area. Take a
look at how much opening there is between reed and mouthpiece. Not
much.)"

True, but....?? when I experiment blowing with high and low tongue,
it appears there is a great change in air speed due to the narrower air column.
The narrow gap --reed--mouthpiece-- certainly is the major change,
but if the column of air is unfocused we have a dramatic change as it goes
through this narrow gap. If the air stream is already -say- twice as fast and
focused, then the change as it goes into the mouthpiece only half as
dramatic. Perhaps ofering less inertia, resistance??

Also mark wrote:

"However, there are a myriad of other factors that do become
involved with harmonics (and apparent volume) when we change the
resonating cavity _on either side_ of the reed. Both sides of the reed
are resonating cavities, not just the clarinet side."

Good---- Interesting!! please expand, or refer sources

Dave

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