 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richard
Date: 2001-06-09 18:29
Hey there. I'm an anchor tonguer and I've just started reforming to tip to tip - it seems easier and more natural, not to mention faster. However, whenever I use tip to tip for more than 5 -10minutes a spot of blood appears on my tongue and soon enough the reed tip is coated in blood. I don't mean to be disgusting, but it happens. I am practising scales in quavers at 144 usually. Am I doing something wrong?
I'd be really grateful if anyone could help me - at the moment my tongue stings quite a lot.
Thanks,
Richard D
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Author: Mindy
Date: 2001-06-09 18:45
That is weird cause I was also an anchor tonguer and then moved to tip to tip. And that has never happened to me. I am really sorry but I can't help you right now. Maybe ask your teacher. She/He should know.
I hope you figure this out.
Mindy
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-06-09 20:18
I no nothing of the subject (other than what I have read) but it sounds like you are striking the reed too hard. I think you are supposed to barely touch it -- just enough to stop it from vibrating, and that doesn't take much at all.
~ jerry
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Author: mark pinner
Date: 2001-06-09 23:00
Dont practise tounging for so long in one go. The tongue is a muscle and benefits from training in much the same way as the biceps for example. Repetition in sets with rest in between.
Try giving the tongue a rest and play something melodic not technical and discover the real beauty of music.
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-06-10 01:43
I think you are striking the reed too hard! I have been a tip to tip tonguer my whole life (well, the 5 years I've been playing the clarinet anyway) & when I get nervous & start tonguing too hard I start bleeding... yuck, it's really gross, just try to relax and take it easy.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-06-10 02:11
Your tongue should approach the reed tip from the bottom up--not straight-on "tip of tongue to tip of reed"--much like you would say, da-da-dah, da-da-dah, etc. You do not actually tongue the tip of the reed but rather the "tip area" of the face of the reed with a small part of your tongue that is just behind its "tip." There is no way that the reed should be cutting your tongue if you are coming from underneath with your tongue at the reed as you should be. Maybe someelse came claify the correct tonguing process more successfully for you--but I gave it a try!! Good luck!!!!!
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-06-10 03:52
Its remotely possible too that that reed may have a small "splinter" sticking up that might be causing the bleeding. I get one of these now and then, so I just lightly touch it up with some 1500 grit wet & dry sand paper from the auto parts store.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-06-10 11:22
From what I've read, the tongue need only very lightly touch the reed. Barely touching it, is all the force that it should take to stop it from vibrating -- anything more would be wasted effort (and time).
And, stop sharpening them so sharp -- just kidding.
Good luck.
~ jerry
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2001-06-10 13:05
You might also want to have your doctor or dentist take a look, see if there isn't some other reason.
sandee
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-06-11 03:31
I anchor tongued for 10 years and then switched to tip-to-tip, and the only time I would get bleeding is when I would would tongue too hard and practice it for too long. Think about it--it only takes the tiniest, gentlest tap of the tongue on the surface of the reed to stop it from vibrating, which is the whole point of tonguing, so there is no need to hit the reed with your tongue, if that makes any sense.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-11 15:09
I think William has probably identified the problem. If your tongue approaches very near the tip of the reed from BENEATH then at the moment when the reed is being stopped from vibrating it merely slaps your toungue - no problem. But if you approach the very tip of the reed from the END then as it is slowed from vibrating it will act like a knife scraping backwards and forwards on the tip of your tongue. Hence the damage to yhour tongue.
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Author: mary
Date: 2001-06-11 20:10
It's not always about tonguing too hard or incorrectly. I've done specific exercises to lighten up my tonguing, but a couple years ago I was practicing hours upon hours of articulated stuff and got the bloody tongue. Now, years later, I still bleed from time to time in the exact same place (verifying that I am tonguing where I want to be!), even when I'm not doing an inordinate amount of tonguing. I'm not sure about physiology, but it seems like the area remains vulnerable.
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