 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2003-08-29 21:17
I am having the worst time trying to tongue correctly. Mostly sixteenth notes, but in general, any tonguing I am having trouble with, whether it be triplets, sixteenths, and I dare not think about thirty-second notes.
I am getting a very slow response when I try to tongue a note(s). Everything seems delayed. Like, I tongue and then the note comes out. They don't happen together or in unison. Lack of support? I don't know. I think I am tonguing the wrong way. My embouchure isn't correct yet either. I have even more trouble tonguing high notes and they all sound harsh when I play up there, tonguing or not.
I also notice that when I tongue notes, the quality of the sound deteriorates greatly. The pitch becomes very flat and the tone quality drops (not like my tone quality is too good anyway).
My teacher keeps telling me that I'm not using the tip of my tongue against the tip of the reed. Also, she tells me that when I tongue a note she hears two notes instead of one, as if some kind of "preparation note" was there. I just hang my head in disgust after this because I don't get that I'm doing it and can't tell that I am. She also repeatedly says "Tighten the corners and the bottom lip against yourself" and to not tense up my tongue while tonguing. But I have trouble doing that while trying to keep the embouchure tight.
She also tells me that I have to practice keeping my chin still while tonguing.
I have noticed myself that when I try to tongue fast, there is a grunting noise in my throat. Not only is it terribly annoying, but I have a feeling that it proves to me that something is wrong.
I need some help because I want to hopefully audition for the Senior Districts this year, but it's hard, especially with the tonguing. The piece is the Clarinet Concerto, Mov. I by Mozart.
I just recently ordered "Baermann - The Complete Method - Part III", "Kell - Staccato Studies", "Klose - Daily Exercises" and "Klose - Scales and Exercises" in hopes that they could help me with daily practice. I thought they could add with my already difficult "Rubank Advanced Volumes I & II for Clarinet" which I use with my teacher.
Does anyone have any advice for me? Anything at all? Any help is appreciated.
Post Edited (2003-08-29 21:22)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-08-29 21:22
Your tongue should act like a door that either does or doesn't allow air through, depending on whether it is touching the reed. Don't "start" the note with your tongue; instead, begin a note by moving your tongue off the reed.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-08-29 21:31
I believe the grunting in your throat might be because you are subconsciously using the air as well as the tongue. You give a stronger puff of air right when you tongue. Make sure that you have a constant stream of air going through your throat. Start without making a noise on the reed and just keeping the embouchre firm as you blow air in a constant stream. After you can keep what feels like a continuous flow of air, tongue the notes. Just tongue a scale or something up and down, but keep the air flowing. Then firm up your embouchre and do it all, with the tones.
While you're playing, there should never be a break in airflow. Just cause you have staccato sixteenths doesn't mean you have to stop the airflow. You should be able to hear the air go through the instrument inbetween the tones. And the only thing stopping the tones from coming out, is your tongue against the heavy enough to stop the reed from vibrating, and not so heavy that it pinches off the reed making it harder to blow through.
As for the tone deteriorating, I think this very well would be caused by the chin dropping. Think about when you blow through a straw and tongue. Does your chin drop? Nope. Although it's a lot easier to drop when you're using a mouthpise. Make sure it doesn't though. And GL with auditions.
Alexi
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
Post Edited (2003-08-29 21:50)
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