 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-09-11 12:35
What are your guys' ideas regarding tongue position. That's the thing I'm having the hardest time with.
Jeeves
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-09-11 12:42
I perform with an overtone rich, focused sound. To achieve that (and presuming that everything else is working just fine for you...) the tongue needs to be high where your molars are, in the back there.
You can achieve this by thinking "eeeeee" when you play. You can practice without the instrument by making your embouchure and saying "shhhhhhhhhhh". If your lips are set in your embouchure's form you will not hear a polite "shhh...please be quiet" but a more hurricane like hiss that will blow spit all over the place.
While playing some performers will alter the height of the tongue, others will not.
Good luck! James
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2008-09-11 13:25)
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Author: William
Date: 2008-09-11 14:30
Tom Ridenour describes the correct--or most effective--tongue position to be as if one is imitating a "cats hiss". He says that "accelorates" the air towards the tip opening for a more "focused" sound. Same idea Tobin expresses above, just different words. It's all about configurating your oral cavity to most favoably "voice" your own sound and make efficient use of your air supply--something a lot of clarinetists do not take seriously enough.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-09-11 15:23
Hello William,
I have described it differently, however Tom and I would be on the exact same page about this. I was leaving open the room and opportunity for clarinetists who do not subscribe to this absolute to have their room to exist in.
I agree with William that many do not pay enough attention to this detail. There are, however, others who simply to not agree with it (or their sound concepts are achieved in other ways).
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: marshall
Date: 2008-09-11 16:41
If you take a pencil or pen or something, use the back end to touch the point in your mouth where the hard palette turns into the soft palette. You should get your tounge as high as possible and concentrate on making this the narrowest part of the airstream. You should also make sure that your throat is relaxed as possible. This will help you get the back of your tongue in the proper position. The back of your tongue should also be quite high, but if you get the middle of your tongue in the right position and are doing the right thing with your throat, the back of your tongue should more or less fall into the right position. You will have to adjust the back of your tongue for voicing from time to time, but it should essentially remain the same. The front of your tongue should follow the contour of your mouth and only come down right in front of the reed.
Keep in mind...this is just the school of thought I was taught in all the way through highschool. This is just my personal opinion on what sounds best based on what I like, how I was taught, and what I've found works for me. Everyone is going to be a little different in regards to tongue position.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-09-12 02:07
Although I don’t disagree with any of the above I want to add this. Many players have thick, long or enlarged tongues and they have to accommodate for that. I know I have a long tongue and can’t keep my tongue up high. I don’t ever think those with a normal tongue size should because I believe it produces a thinner, brighter and smaller tone, especially in the upper register. I do advocate keeping the back of the tongue high, in-between or very near the upper molars as Tobin suggests. Where I differ, at least for me, is that I think the front of the tongue should be arched so the tip rests near the lower lip to open the oral cavity and allow for a fuller richer tone. When the entire tongue is up high there is a very small air passage so the tendency is to force since there is not a very large space for the air to flow. I know many players advocate a high tongue in front but at least in my experience those players get a smaller, brighter tone than I like. Remember, I'm saying than what I like not what someone else likes. Of course there are always exceptions to that as in everything. If that’s what you're looking for then it works for you. Everyone has to experiment to find what works best and sounds best for themselves because we’re all built differently and we all have different concepts. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
Listen to a little Mozart
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