Author: vjoet
Date: 2010-09-13 19:49
Hi Thomas,
I'm pretty good at staccato, and have been successful in teaching HS students to be good at it.
Tonguing is really a misnomer, for the tone starts when you remove the tongue from the reed, not when you put it there.
I teach tonguing as the word TAUGHT, not DEE, not TEE.
On the T portion the tongue is on the reed. Say the word TAUGHT real slowly. You'll note the tip of the tongue is far forward and touches the upper teeth. When you reach the AU part the tongue is away from the reed, allowing it vibrate. To transfer this to playing, requires just a little practice, brushing / touching the reed and not the upper teeth.
For legato tongueing, use only the first portion of the word TAU. Say it repeatedly and slowly and smoothly, stretching it out: Taaauu, Taaauu. Then try it on the instrument. Start your support and air flow while the tongue is on the reed, and then soft and gently "taaauu, taaauu, taaauu".
For dry staccato, practice by saying quickly and sharply, and with accent:
Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut! Taut!
Here the tongue is initially on the reed, and then pulls back on the AU part, and immediately returns to the reed on the terminal T, thus stopping the sound. Throughout your air is still flowing. You don't stop the air flow. The air will often leak out the side of your mouth in the short, dry staccato, but don't be concerned with that, for the air you hear will not be audible 5 feet away.
Hope this helps. It does with the HS students, but then in that scenario I can demonstrate, and listen and correct. :-) Oh, one of my HS students just went off to college. He called that he got 3rd chair, 1st clarinets, in the Wind Ensemble. He was thrilled. Ahead of him are 2 seniors, and here he is a freshman. I'm so proud of him!
vJoe
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