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Re: Staccato stumbles

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-09-05 00:50

In a more casual conversation at home Robert Marcellus likened learning staccato properly to potty training. It is slow and somewhat filled with angst.

Firstly you must break down [all this refers to single tonguing by the way] the components of the "attack." Placement of the tongue on the reed ceases the vibrations much like the hand on a timpani head or grabbing the edge of a hi-hat or pressing marching cymbals into one's chest. Withdrawing the tongue from the reed (as you are blowing air) allows the reed to begin vibrating again. So the actual attack is the WITHDRAWING of the tongue, NOT the hitting of the reed with the tongue (there really is no such thing).

A way to practice staccato tonguing would be to play a scale (perhaps around 60 beats per minute) by continuously blowing as you quickly withdraw your tongue from the reed for the first note and quickly replace it (emphasizing the withdrawal) to create a "TUT" sound. The idea is not to create a pleasing note but a very very short STOP/START. It probably should not sound so great. Keep playing this way up and down the scale. There is a "stop staccato" method described in Daniel Bonade's Clarinetist's Compendium. The great part about Bonade's exercise is that he adds moving to the next note IN BETWEEN SOUNDS in a rhythmic movement. I recommend this to all my students.

..............Paul Aviles

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