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 tonguing and throat
Author: facundo retamar 
Date:   2023-07-23 00:36

hi everyone, i have a question. i want to know if it is normal to move the throat just a tiny bit when tonguing.

my tearcher told me that i shoud not to do it, and the only way i have found not to do it is toguing with my tip very far below from the tip of the reed, but the problem is that is not natural for my voicing, and if i try to go up the movement in the throat starts.
i have to say that i have a massive flat tongue, so i have been working to lighter it.

i also tried differents kind of tongue positions: anchor, lateral, tip to top, and differents consonants and vowels.
i am quite stuck with this subjet, if anyone can help my with an idea i really appreciate it.

greetings.

pd: sorry for my english, spanish is my native language. i tried to do my best

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 Re: tonguing and throat
Author: m1964 
Date:   2023-07-23 01:00

facundo retamar wrote:

> hi everyone, i have a question. i want to know if it is normal
> to move the throat just a tiny bit when tonguing.
>
> my tearcher told me that i shoud not to do it, and the only way
> i have found not to do it is toguing with my tip very far below
> from the tip of the reed, but the problem is that is not
> natural for my voicing, and if i try to go up the movement in
> the throat starts.
> i have to say that i have a massive flat tongue, so i have been
> working to lighter it.
>
> i also tried differents kind of tongue positions: anchor,
> lateral, tip to top, and differents consonants and vowels.
> i am quite stuck with this subjet, if anyone can help my with
> an idea i really appreciate it.

Your teacher seems to be right. I myself played long time using an anchored tongue and could never produce good attack and quick staccato.

Working on the tongue/attack/articulation is a slow process, you may need to try the same things many times before it starts "to work".
I know that because while playing with anchored tongue, I knew it was wrong but could not figure out how to do it "right". Still working on it.

Maybe you can get a one-time consultation/lesson with another teacher, preferably someone well-known.
If you are close to Madrid, you can get in touch with the owner of Musical Perales (his name is Pedro) and ask if he could recommend someone.
I recommend him because I bought a clarinet from his shop and he seemed very nice and professional.

To summarize, I would try to correct the problem as soon as possible so you do not form a bad habit that will be very difficult to change at later time.

Good luck



Reply To Message
 
 Re: tonguing and throat
Author: kdk 2017
Date:   2023-07-23 01:09

facundo retamar wrote:

> hi everyone, i have a question. i want to know if it is normal
> to move the throat just a tiny bit when tonguing.
>
> my tearcher told me that i shoud not to do it, and the only way
> i have found not to do it is toguing with my tip very far below
> from the tip of the reed, but the problem is that is not
> natural for my voicing,
>
> i also tried differents kind of tongue positions: anchor,
> lateral, tip to top, and differents consonants and vowels.

Before I try to react to your actual question I have to ask what it is about the sound of your tonguing that made this a point of discussion with your teacher in the first place. Was it something you or he heard?

Karl

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 Re: tonguing and throat
Author: symphony1010 
Date:   2023-07-23 16:49

Placing the tongue incorrectly can happen because the vital accuracy of the movement was not established in the first stages of learning. I try to have new students tonguing in their first lesson so that they don't go away and immediately establish a bad habit!

It can be quite difficult to correct but here's one suggestion you may care to try. Firstly, put all familiar music aside for a week or so and just concentrate on some tonguing exercises. If you try to play well-known music or pieces with mixed articulation you will just go back to old ways.

Try holding a long sound, usually in the middle register - something like 3-finger C. Sustain the sound at mezzo-forte and then start to aim at the tip of the reed with the tip of the tongue. Usually it's just under the tip of the reed and not in the reed gap. You may find it hard to keep supporting the air but this must be done as you move the tongue. Then check in a mirror to see if when you tongue there is any facial movement - there should not be. Imagine you are ventriloquist and that the tonguing should be only a movement close to the tip of the reed.

You need to maintain the exercises several times a day - maybe try for just 5 minutes at a time. Do this over a week until the new position of your tongue is completely familiar. be patient - remember you are trying to completely change a habit you may have followed for many years.

The key thing is to establish the airflow before you start to move the tongue. This is what I do with complete beginners and those who I inherit who have similar issues to you.

Good luck!



Post Edited (2023-07-23 16:51)

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