 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bonacheeta
Date: 2000-03-05 05:39
I have a problem with my tonguing technique and I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem. When I play, I use an "anchored" tongue (as my private teacher calls it), and sometimes the notes don't come out as light. Then I get a "flack" sound. I don't understand how I can use the tip of my tongue to make a "tah" sound on the back of my teeth if I have a mouthpiece in my mouth. I seem to use the middle of my tongue instead, leaving the tip "anchored". If anyone knows about this, e-mail me.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-03-05 12:49
This is a more common of a problem that we would like to think, especially for those who tend to learn the instrument in a class setting where there isn't as much individual attention. Here is a fix that I have adapted from two fine clarinet tutors:
The "shhhhhhtaaaah" exercise. Hold the clarinet in playing position and lightly place the tongue on the reed. Hold it there, gently while blowing gentle air. Watch yourself in front of a mirror to check for pouchie cheeks. Do this several times without emitting a sound to get used to holding the tip of the tongue on the reed. THEN after getting used to it use MORE air and this time just after you've started your air drop the tongue down. You should get a tone instantly. Do this SLOWLY several times eventually gettin up to very slow quarter notes. If you succeed at this then it is easier to apply to eighths, etc. and you're on your way to overcoming the problem.
Second strategy (simple) think of tongue placement like this: If you didn't have the mouthpiece in your mouth, your tongue would come out EXACTLY between the lips! Try it. Then imagine the SAME action with the mouthpiec in proper posistion. It should tickle(the tongue touching the reed) the end of your tongue if done properly. Now try playing long tones using this type of tongue aciton.
Good Luck,
J. Butler
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-05 13:47
Bonacheeta wrote:
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...I don't understand how I can use the tip of my tongue to make a "tah" sound on the back of my teeth if I have a mouthpiece in my mouth...
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It looks like the teacher's explanation was a bit incomplete. This is where your tongue would touch if the mouthpiece were not in your mouth. It is very effective to spend some time each day practicing this way without the mouthpiece. Then when you put the mouthpiece in your mouth, use the same motions. However, now your tongue *WILL* touch the mouthpiece. Don't try to touch your teeth with the mouthpiece in.
Hope this cleared it up a bit.
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Author: HTW
Date: 2000-03-05 15:26
I feel your pain! I overcame this problem about 2 years ago. I'm in grade 11, and I found it very interesting to see university students, who are otherwise good clarinetists just discovering that they anchor tongued., so it's a very common problem, and difficult to identify.
Before I actually knew what it was that I was doing, I knew I wasn't doing something right. Some teachers I worked with tried to get me to change it but it just didn't work. Then somebody came along she said something a certain way, and bang, I could do it right. So get different clarinetists to work with you on this, probably all you need is for someone to tell you something in just a certain way.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-03-05 20:50
IMHO, it's worth the hassle of getting rid of this habit. I picked up anchor tonguing in grade school, under exactly the circumstances someone else mentioned above -- large class, no individual instruction. Breaking the bad habit was difficult, and I felt as though I had to go back to a beginner phase I'd thought I was all done with (very slow practice, etc. -- frustrating!), but I really did have to do it, because I didn't get a crisp, clean attack with anchor tonguing. Instead of "ta-ta-ta-ta," I got, "gnuh gnuh gnuh gnuh." I've heard that some pro players anchor tongue, but I think it's extremely unusual for anyone to be able to get a good sound and good ability to play rapidly-tongued passages that way.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-03-06 19:36
Bonacheeta wrote:
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I have a problem with my tonguing technique and I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem. When I play, I use an "anchored" tongue (as my private teacher calls it), and sometimes the notes don't come out as light. Then I get a "flack" sound. I don't understand how I can use the tip of my tongue to make a "tah" sound on the back of my teeth if I have a mouthpiece in my mouth. I seem to use the middle of my tongue instead, leaving the tip "anchored". If anyone knows about this, e-mail me.
Bonacheeta -
J. Butler's methods are excellent. The main thing is to keep at it. Everything worthwhile takes practice.
For more than you may want to know, look at my posting from a couple of years ago at <A HREF=http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?id=6899>http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?id=6899<A>. The main additional idea there is to start with a steady tone and barely touch the reed tip with the tip of your tongue. This starts you out right and also ensures that you keep the airstream going at all times.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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