Klarinet Archive - Posting 000779.txt from 2002/11

From: Bi6W@-----.net (Bill Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] Introducing tonguing - was "teaching clarinet"
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 00:00:07 -0500

<><> To extend this topic to teaching a beginner tonguing - at what
point would you teach a rank beginner to tongue?

Audrey, from a student's point of view (you know that I'm not a
teacher):

There is more than one way that a new student can fall into 'lazy'
habits. Some teachers start early in order to avoid 'lazy' tongues,
and some teachers start late in order to avoid 'lazy' breath support at
the end of each note.

Another factor: several teachers here have advised that teaching too
much at once can be a bad tactic. I certainly fell into this category
when I was beginning. I still do.

Explaining that tonguing does not interrupt the air flow, but only holds
the reed still, reduces the seeming conflict, of course.

My teacher started late with me. As part of her introduction to
tonguing, she explained (after 6 weeks) the reason behind her preference
for "breath support first, tonguing later."

FWIW,
Bill

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