Klarinet Archive - Posting 000385.txt from 2001/05

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Professor Wheeler's tongue
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 20:36:52 -0400

At 11:45 PM 05/14/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>The only further thing that occurs to me is that we might try relating all
>this to the experience of *whistling*. If I whistle, then my tongue
>placement absolutely determines the pitch, but I have almost no notion of
>exactly how.

This is the analogy I use with my students.

>How about making that connection, rather than the 'vowel' connection?

It pays to be able to say it 20 different ways when teaching. But in this
case, even three or four is a good start!

>Have you, or anyone else, tried that with a beginning student in difficulty?

All the time - and it works. Even if they don't get it - they are
interested and want to go home and experiment........bingo!

I have taught beginners for nearly 20 years - and the approach works. As
an aside - it is a proven theory in brass pedagogy and was very helpful in
developing my beginning brass players. Geez......I sure miss my bands of
1983-85 in Longview, WA. By the time I left (their 7th grade year) they
were fantastic. When I visited four years later - the high school program
had really become a wonderful program (buttons bursting off the vest)
........but I digress..........

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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