Klarinet Archive - Posting 001087.txt from 2002/11

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tonguing --- Jack Brymer and Keith Stein
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 14:54:45 -0500

--- "Forest E. Aten Jr." <forestaten@-----.com> wrote:

> Also....with regard to tonguing the 1/2 inch from the tip of the tongue that
> someone mentioned...Was that below the tip of the tongue, or above? I know many
> players that have very clean tonguing when using the portion of the tongue just
> below the tip....I don't know any players (that's not to say that they don't
> exist) that have a "clean" sound when using the top part of the tongue.

A 1/2" in either direction doesn't seem like it would be conducive to the kind
of sensitive and flexible articulation ability that is needed across so many dif-
ferent styles of music. 'Interesting that you mention those who tongue just be-
low the tip of the tongue. I've achieved terrific results by training my tongue
to very lightly strike the reed using exactly that spot every time -- with the
smallest possible range of actual physical motion -- enabling the full range of
possible articulation styles. Many developing players don't realize that mini-
mization of the mechanical motion of the tongue is critical in order to avoid
disruption and/or distortion of the air stream. Mucking up the focus and con-
tour of the air stream wreaks havoc on consistency of tone and attack.

Neil

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