Klarinet Archive - Posting 000453.txt from 2000/11

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] oh oh: Long Tones and Embouchure
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:11:36 -0500

<><> Terry Sterkel wrote:
did I catch that the air is supposed to be going through the mouthpiece
"all the time?" That is, the tongue does not cut air flow, just reed
vibration??? could you be kind enough to clarify? thanks!

Terry, I noticed that you posted this question once before. I'm
reluctant to post anything myself about tonguing. I can't do it
properly yet. But there is one book (80 pages for $12.95) that almost
every music store has, and it talks about tonguing in a more meaningful
way that most "how to" book: The Art Of Clarinet Playing, by Keith
Stein

Stein *does* emphasize "continuously moving breath", such as: "A
final comparison is to a river at flood stage when the leaves of
overhanging trees are touching the rushing current. These leaves,
flicked in and out of the water, are like the tongue deflected by the
breath flow."
Stein advises that the first step is to learn how to end a tone (to
"release" it) without using the tongue and without interrupting the air
movement. Then add tongue movements later on. Stein gives exercises.

I don't mind posting my own frustration about tonguing in case
someone here on the list has any help to offer.
My own tongue is long enough and wide enough that I can't imagine
myself ever being able to use the "tip to tip" approach. This adds to
the 'mini-explosion' in front of each articulated note that sounds so
terrible. So far, I don't see how my tongue can touch the reed without
also interrupting the air movement completely.
Stein's book talks about avoiding the "coiled up" tongue position
and keeping the tongue "well forward" and "near the tip of the reed."
This seems like a contradiction to me, since "well forward" and "not
coiled" mean that my tongue is pressing against my front teeth or
perhaps lying in between my slightly-separated teeth.

Cheers, (not said with tongue in cheek)
Bill

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