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 Tonguing
Author: concertino 
Date:   2005-04-16 15:32

I know this issue has been touched on a million times and yes, I have searched the boards.

Everytime I tongue I, there is this sound that come before it. Am I tonguing too hard or do I need a softer/harder reed?

I am playing on Vandoren 3's.

Thanks.

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-04-16 17:17

Treat the tongue like a trapdoor that stops a consistent airstream. Likely, you are "pushing" the notes out with your tongue.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: clarinetist04 
Date:   2005-04-16 17:32

You need more breath support. Keep the air stream constant.

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-04-16 20:47

You might be trying to start your airstream at the same exact time as you tongue. Try starting the airstream a second or two before the note comes out, and just hold your tongue against the reed. When it's time for the note to sound, "release" the reed from under your tongue. Important is to keep the same airflow going through the clarinet, whether your tongue is moving or not.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: VermontJM 
Date:   2005-04-23 03:48

I tell my students that tonguing is one of those things that gets worse before it gets better-

First, follow all of the above advice, which is awesome... then... play EVERYTHING tongued. You can then go back and play it with the proper articulation. Tonguing is one of those things you CAN'T fake- you have to practice it or you won't get better.

I was tonguing COMPLETELY incorrectly for many years. It took a full year to unlearn the bad habits. I am still working on it.



****I fixed the CAN'T - I had accidentally put CAN. (need to proofread!)***



Post Edited (2005-04-23 04:24)

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: GBK 
Date:   2005-04-23 04:00

VermontJM wrote:

> Tonguing is one of those things you can fake -


Not in front of a good teacher...GBK

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: VermontJM 
Date:   2005-04-23 04:23

OOOOOOOPS!!!

I totally meant to say CAN'T FAKE!!!

can't, can't, can't.

Darn me and my bad typing.

Ok... I am going to fix this right now. Geez. Thanks, GBK. what I great teacher I am.

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: bandgeek 
Date:   2005-04-23 22:42

I have a sax friend that does that too. it might just be your horn is messed up like her's . or it might be you.

island1@bellsouth.net

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: Robert Moody 
Date:   2005-04-24 14:38

Can you start a sound consistently without using your tongue?

Start a top line F-natural with a good embouchure and just the airstream. Was the sound you are discouraged with there? (Probably not. If there were then there are other issues outside of tonguing.)

Now, start the same note with your tongue positioned ready to articulate and with the note sounding full and clear, lightly articulate with just the "tip" (which means different things to different people!) by emphasizing the pulling away of your tongue after you make contact with the reed.

Emphasis: Solid, pure sound...tongue contacts reed near "tip"...light contact with emphasis on the retraction away from the reed.

Done right and repeatedly, this will produce a legato articulation. I've found that the vast majority of students (through college) have never thought (made a conscious effort to think about) about the fact that legato articulations require not only light contact against the reed tip, but a very fast retraction of the tongue from the reed like accidently touching a hot surface.

I know it has been said before, but it really must be remembered that without hearing the issue you are having, it is difficult to isolate the real issue going on. So I am merely guessing from my experience and how you've explained it.

I would suggest focusing on the being able to produce a solid stream of air through the horn that does not change its consistency while articulating. Then focus on the motion and placement of the tongue while articulating while placing emphasis on a distinct pulling away of the tongue during repeated legato tones on a single note. Go from there...

Let us know what you come up with.

Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: Llewsrac 
Date:   2005-05-02 02:06

Blow a long tone, relax the right corner of your mouth so a hissing stream of air is heard. Start tonguing eight notes while keeping the hissing stream of air steady with no stopping. Do you hear the sound now? If not, tighten the corner and continue the tonguing eights maintaing a firm column of air support. The tongue articulates while riding upon that fast, steady stream of air.

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: clarinetist04 
Date:   2005-05-02 02:09

But don't develop the bad habit (imho) of leaking air. I can't stand that when I hear it...I can't honestly say from my experience that I've heard any soloists play with that "wheazing" sound. That is, soloists who have record labels representing them (and made a career out of being a soloist). That also goes for any of the orchestras I've been to see.

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 Re: Tonguing
Author: Llewsrac 
Date:   2005-05-02 02:22

Use the hissing stream of air as a practice tool, not as a method of performance

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