The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Elizabeth
Date: 2005-01-19 20:50
Could the cause of a slow-tongue-problem be affected by the length of your'e tongue? Not to make this post akward, but my tongue is fairly long. I have a problem with getting my tongue to move fast. My tongue placement on my reed it just under the "tip" of my tongue. I play on the "tip of the tip". Which I feel is the right tonguing position. Any ideas? : )
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-01-19 21:50
Amy, I would ask, "If you were to simply sit straight up and down in a chair and open your mouth, would your tongue naturally protrude over your bottom teeth?" This is asking if it sticks out while sitting natural and relaxed?
My initial inclination would be that if it DOES naturally stick over your bottom teeth and onto your lip, then yes...it MAY be affecting your ability to tongue to your potential. You might want to consider alternative methods like "anchor tonguing" where you turn the tip of the tongue down and along the back of the lower teeth and use a point a little further up on the top of the tongue to make contact with the reed.
If your tongue, in a relaxed and natural state, does not extend over your bottom teeth and up on the lip then you may want to consider other issues affecting your tonguing ability rather than tongue length.
Not concrete observations. Just my opinion.
Take Care,
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: Elizabeth
Date: 2005-01-19 23:53
Robert, Thankfully no, my tongue does not hang out over my bottom lip when relaxed.
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2005-01-20 02:24
Throughout my career, i have been accused of having one of the fastest single tongues around. I also have a rather wide tongue which is not very long. Some people may find this to be a genetic definciency, but it seems to work out for tough passages in the neislen concerto, or my signature piece, the berio sequenza. So i think short tongue equates to being a really fast tonguer. But let me make this very clear...that is all it equates to.
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2005-01-20 14:15
Hello,
I also have an unusually long tongue. When my teacher tried to find out why I was having trouble tonguing with the tip of my tongue, she recommended that I "anchor tongue." This subject was mentioned in a recent thread. I now keep the tip of my tongue 'pressed' against the back of my lower teeth, and hit the reed tip with the middle of my tongue. It takes some practice, and is not recommended for people with average tongue lengths, but this method works well for those with long tongues, and it has greatly improved my tonguing. Give it a shot; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Dan
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