Klarinet Archive - Posting 000603.txt from 2003/08

From: "Antoine T. Clark" <trioarioso@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Articulation problems
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 22:26:20 -0400

I agree Ed. When I start out any beginner student I explain tonguing soon
after learning things like notes and note values. I help to see that the
tongue and air works like your faucet in the kitchen. Water pressure ( air
pressure) is always there and the tongue is like the faucet valve. It
releases the water ( air ) when open ( tongue off the reed) and shuts it
off when closed ( tongue on the reed). But even in explaining this analogy
to them I explain that they should not tongue hard or jab the reed. To help
them to understand that I make them place the tip of the tongue in circle of
the lips while making an embouchure. Blow and release tongue. I have found
that many students have a bad habit of pushing off with the tongue before
releasing the tongue. They must understand that you only pull the tongue
away from the reed and not press the tongue into the reed. Another reason
why I don't use syllables. Saying Du-Du automatically uses pressure on the
reed before pulling away if one is not careful. Its possible to do it if you
let the air pressure behind the tongue work for you but most beginning
students or even high school students not properly taught don't understand
that. I was a victim of that issue and took years to figure it out.

Antoine Clark
Linkhorne Middle Choral Director
E.C Glass High Woodwind Director

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subject: [kl] RE: Articulation problems

<<<Can you just hit the reed as though you're saying: "t" against it?>>>

One of the problems is our usual tendency to describe the action of
articulation as "hitting." The tongue doesn't "hit the reed." The tongue
acts as a valve. To start the tone, it pulls away from the reed. I would try
never to use the word "hit" when describing articulation to a student. I
don't want to oversimplify the technique, but we need to have this basic
understanding before proceeding to further refinements.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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