 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Becky
Date: 2002-02-13 12:52
How long has it taken some of you to tongue the 16th notes or faster.
Usually I just cheat at some of the them and go ahead and slur. But I know they will sound so much better tongued.
I am really praying that there is hope for me. My finger/tongue coordination is something less to be desired. I practice and practice this and its still isn't smooth enough.
I guess what I want to hear from some of you.......is that ..........YOU stunk at this too.......UNTIL........one day............it happend for you too!!!!
Thanks,
Becky
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jez
Date: 2002-02-13 13:42
We all have the same problem Becky. The trouble is that as soon as you get your speed up to whatever you need now you'll come across some new piece of music that requires you to go faster still.
Sounds like you're doing the right things though; Practise & practise and put in the occasional slur. Instead of slurring whole passages, though, try to use just a few to help out. If you've got a continuous line of 16ths try to slur 2 tongue 2 then slur 2 tongue 6 then slur 2 tongue 14. It's amazing how just a little rest like that helps you to keep going. I think stamina is often the problem rather than simply speed. If you listen carefully you can sometimes hear professional players adopting this tactic.
You could try working on the stamina rather than the speed by practising (always as fast as you can) gradually increasing numbers of notes. That's what I do, but who am I to talk? My tongue-ing still stinks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-02-13 14:29
Another thing that helps is to focus on your fingers not your tongue. A very common problem is that the subconscious thinks the tongue is slow (when it is not) and then slows the fingers down. So the tongue and fingers get out of synchronization. The faster you try to tongue, the worse it gets.
So here is one approach to help improve the situation. Simply set your tongue in motion at a steady speed and forget it. Then focus on the fingers and make them move BEFORE the tongue. Start very slowly at first just doing one note at a time. Gradually speed it up. Here's an outline.
1. Finger the note (don't tongue or blow yet).
2. Now tongue the note
3. Stop the note.
4. Finger the next note.
5. Keep repeating steps 2 thru 4 gradually building speed.
To get good, clean, fast tonguing, the fingers must lead the tongue. A more detailed explanation is available in Danial Bonade's "Clarinet Compendium."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-02-13 14:44
After years of practice, my personal best for tongued 16th notes was mm=120 in a scale passage. I finally decided that I was born with a tongue "speed limit" and I was never going to be a Ricardo Moreles (Principal Clarinetist, NY Metropolitan Opera), who, when asked how he tongues so fast, replied, "I don't know--I've just always been able to do it." So, I still practice single tonguing to maintain my stamina--which is important--and keep my articulation skills keen. But for situations where I need to tongue very rapidly (like measures 49 & 50 of the 3d movt, Ile De France of the "Suite Fracaise" for band, by Darius Mihaud--which I am performing this Sunday), I have learned double and triple multiple articuation skills that let tongue rapid passages like that with relative ease. If you do a search, you will find many discussions regarding double and triple tonguing vs fast single articultion (which is better--if you can do it and were not born with a sluggish tongue like myself). Most fellow clarinetists and audience members cannot tell when I am single or double tonguing, but there really is a difference that I can sense. Bottm line: single tonguing is best if you can manage, but double and triple tonguing is a valuable skill to develop if you have a sluggie for a tongue. Good Clarineting (TaKaTaKa TaTaKa TaTaKa--lesson over)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-02-13 14:48
Also be very sure that your jaw does not move at all. Jaw motion really slows a person down. Only the tongue should move and it should move as little as possible.
Before attempting techniques like double tonguing, be sure that you have truly developed your single tonguing (i.e. proper synchronization, no jaw movement, minimal tongue movement).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-02-14 01:05
You can learn how to move your tongue very fast when you are very tired after long playing. Only after that you cannot impose any excessive force on your tongue, i.e. you can relax and play freely. I knew this very long years ago from a famous flute book Altes. It works. You should think it 'easy' not difficult. If others can, you can.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike
Date: 2002-02-14 08:57
Get an automated tongue, I think they are available from Buffet, I mean Boosey, I mean the parent company Steinway, or is it Selmer USA? I forget now
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Becky
Date: 2002-02-14 13:26
Thank you for all the advice. I am looking pretty silly in front of the computer going........."TaKaTaKa TaTaka TaTaKa Taco TacoTaco Taco.....lol"
I will certainly will practice.
About the automated tongue......IS is the wind-up model? 
Becky
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Becky
Date: 2002-02-14 13:44
You can't say that I don't have the "Will".........haha
It's just overflowing.
Becky
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-02-14 14:08
Have you first verified that your single tonguing is correct? If you have jaw motion and t/or too much tongue motion, it will carry over to your double tonguing and cause problems there too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
