 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-02-28 03:41
As I've probably said before, tonguing is my biggest weakness. It probably bothers me most because I never learned it correctly and never got to practice it because of that. I am STARTING to get the hang of it, I think. But there are a lot of factors involved, such as tension, keeping an open throat, keeping the air moving, the embouchure firm and not moving, and of course moving the tongue lightly, quickly, yet not moving it a lot. When I am trying to tongue fast passages, such as the ones I am required to in the first ("Cakewalk") and fifth movement ("Ragtime") of Robert Russell Bennett's "Suite of Old American Dances," or in the 3rd Movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto ("Rondo"), I come across a few problems. 1) I find that my tongue seems to hit the reed too hard, and not lightly or quickly enough. Also, my tongue seems to stay too close to the reed (or maybe it's even on the reed faintly) and therefore I can't get a clear sound and the speed slows down even more than the pace it started at. 2) It doesn't feel like the very tip of my tongue is hitting the reed. It feels more like under the tip, or a little under the tongue. Does this affect my tonguing at all? and 3) I have trouble sometimes (Getting better at it) keeping my embouchure firm and in place while tonguing fast especially. I eventually get to the point where I feel like I have no grip on the mouthpiece at all and am just shooting air out of my mouth from all sides. I am working on fixing this, but it's a definite hinderance. Does anyone have any advice on what they think about my problems here and how I could possibly fix them as soon as possible?
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-02-28 04:15
You said you are trying to tongue the fast passages. Don't try, just do it. This sounds pretentious, but it can really help. Also, trouble with tonguing is often actually trouble with tongue-finger agreement. You may be fingering and tonguing, treating each task as independent. Instead, allow your fingers to dominate. Tongue to the fingers, and tongue when the fingers move to places that necessitate tonguing. Don't think about the tongue, think about the fingers, then move your tongue to match.
This alone will likely lessen the effects of 1) 2) and 3). 1 and 2 are probably related to anchor tonguing (which I'm finally getting out of the habit of myself). 3, you're probably playing more at a given time than you're capable of maintaining. It just takes time and practice to overcome it.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-02-28 11:05
Do you get the sensation that you're trying to actually shovel the air with your tongue? Breathe in all the air you can hold, and just let your tongue lightly put bumps in the sound.
The fingering issue is important, too. Keep them even and don't rush in fast passages. If your tongue and fingers won't coordinate, practice the passage slurred and make sure that your fingers are able to produce the rhythm without the help of the tongue. Good rhythm will keep your tongue and fingers united.
Allen Cole
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-02-28 11:46
Play a lot of SLOW tongued passages. Speed actually grows out of hours of slow practice. That's because you must get it correct before you can do it fast.
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