Klarinet Archive - Posting 000210.txt from 2005/04

From: X-UH-MailScanner-r.n.taylor@-----.uk
Subj: RE: [kl] RE: flutter tongueing
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 05:09:36 -0400

I'm from the North East of England. I have lost, sadly, large parts of my
regional accent, but older Northumbrians often use a hard 'r' sound,
emphasised from the throat. I can't remember ever having had that in my
everyday speech, but trying to follow Leila's marvelous instructions I find
myself eventually reverting to just this characteristic ancient sound. I
wouldn't, in my case, imagine it's genetic so much as a learnt and deeply
embedded response, hidden away in my earliest attempts at speaking. Still -
I'm going to keep trying because although my throat 'grr' sound is of some
use playing the clarinet, I think I might eventually manage this Spanish 'r'
too.

On a completely different subject I found out that the colloquial Japanese
for a written musical note is (sometimes) 'otamajakushi' - which also means
'tadpole'. Very useful for the ClarinetFest.

Noel

-----Original Message-----
From: Lacy, Edwin [mailto:el2@-----.edu]
Sent: 11 April 2005 16:00
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] RE: flutter tongueing

Lots of people seem to be willing to advise us that the way to flutter
tongue is to "use the Spanish rolled "R." What they don't understand is
that for some people, this is impossible. And, those who can't pronounce
the Spanish rolled "R" also can't flutter tongue. So, that amounts to no
advice at all.

I have been trying for over 50 years to learn to flutter tongue. In the
process I have made more ugly sounds and expended more saliva than you can
imagine. My wife and one of our sons can do it with no trouble - it seems
effortless to them. Our other son, like me, has never been able to do it.
Many people have tried to teach me to do it. In most cases, they begin by
saying, "Just use the Spanish rolled "R."

So, here we go again. However, fortunately for me, I can create this effect
with the back of the soft palate.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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