 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-05-27 20:13
About two months ago during band class, I realized the middle of my tongue was hitting the reed. I thought about it and realized I've been doing it since sixth grade. I'm about to be in twelth grade. Since I could play the songs well by doing it, I haven't stopped yet. Now that summer is here, I've tried to start playing in the tip-to-tip way. The problem is that I can't get a tone by doing it; all I get are squeaks. I've tried it on soprano, contra-alto, and on alto saxophone, but no luck. I searched on it, but couldn't find anything to help me. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-05-27 20:26
Tone is kinda independant of where your tongue hits. Tone is more the position of your tongue while NOT hitting. But if you're getting squeaks every time you actually touch the reed, that's a different story. I think the best thing I've read on this stuff is this exercise here . . .
(posted by Ken Shaw) . . .
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=32780&t=32715
Hopefully that will work for you.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-05-27 20:55
It's more than getting squeaks when I try to tongue. I get squeaks by blowing. The only noise that I can make without my tongue anchored are squeaks.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-05-27 21:40
If I remember correctly, you're SUPPOSED to keep the tongue high and anchored while just blowing. To keep a good constant airstream . . . Am I understanding you correctly? I hope so . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-05-27 21:40
Contra -
Don't panic. You're not alone. Anchor tonguing gives you security, but at a high cost, since it slows you down and makes your tone flat and dull.
Remember that when you switch to tip-to-tip tonguing, you're adding a new skill, but not losing the old one. If you start to squeak in rehearsal, just go back to anchor, and work on the change at home.
I recommend that you read http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=6899&t=6887 and do the exercises I gave there.
It will take a couple of weeks to build up your embouchure strength to support the mouthpiece without using your tongue, and to control the reed enough to stop squeaking. In the interim, it might help to use a reed 1/2 strength softer than usual.
Do the work and report your progress back to us. If you have trouble, there are other things to try.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-05-28 15:09
Also make absolutely sure that your jaw is not moving. Only the tongue moves. If you move your jaw, you are at great risk of squeaking.
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-05-28 17:58
Well, I was able to get a G and a D out for a second, so it's a start.
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Author: Tara
Date: 2004-05-29 02:55
I was at a master class recently where Robert Spring was addressing this very same subject with a sad soul in college who just realized he was anchor tonguing. He did this bit with placing the tongue correctly at the tip of the reed, and then pulling the clarinet and toungue out of the mouth... back and forth... very odd looking, but apparently to get the right feel. You might check to see if he has any additional resources available.
Good Luck,
Tara
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Author: ken
Date: 2004-05-29 16:38
I would also add to the discussion, if you're going to make the switch make it NOW and do not delay. The saying, "old habits die hard" definitely apply here. Like any other fundamental the longer the method of tonguing is practiced the more permanent it becomes in the sub-conscious and in muscle memory.
I was an anchor tonguer for my 1st 13 years; I finally got serious and made the switch at age 25 (and so did my teacher, thanks Ronnie!). For me, it was almost too late as I was already a working player, had to keep anchor tonguing on the job, attitudinally set in my ways, but was knuckling down and working my exercises into my daily routine. Given my playing circumstances, it took me about 1 1/2 years to fully "kick the habit" to the degree I felt confident and proficient enough to perform tip-to-tip 100% on stage.
On the upside it's nice to have both methods at my command but as fine as my teachers were in my beginner-intermediate years, I wish they would've addressed my tonguing issues more diligently, it would've saved a few extra bucks on tylenol. v/r Ken
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-05-31 00:02
Hah, I too have suffered from anchor tonguing, which I didn't find out until my senior year in HS. I think I started anchoring tonguing by playing contra for so long. Anchor tonguing seemed more natural on larger mpcs for me.
My private teacher would go over and over about how to correctly articulate, and I never really got it. So for a while, I was in articulation limbo while I was trying to rebuild my embouchure and articulation habits. I've gotten better now, no more anchor tonguing, but I'm not very fast. :( Prolly cuz I don't practice as much as I should. :P
Good luck!
Contragirl
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-06-10 16:08
I finally got it to work. It wasn't the best sound I ever made, but at least it's coming along well enough. Oddly enough, it worked better when I tried it on the saxophone.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-06-11 20:44
Uh Hi I know im not the person who posted this topic im just wondering can someone post a picture of correct tonuging postion?
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Author: Vrat
Date: 2004-06-13 18:46
Congratulations. Seems you are on the right track. Keep up.
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