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Tonguing Trouble

Author: whonderwhy797
Date: 2012-12-12 18:02

I'm a sophomore in college majoring in music, and I still can't tongue properly.
I feel very discouraged because I feel like no matter what I try I can't get a smooth legato tonguing without hearing a "click" or a bend in the note. My professor and I are working on proper tonguing. She put a dot on my tongue to see where on tongue and reed I am hitting. There is a discrepancy from where I think I tongue and where I actually tongue..this is perhaps the most frustrating part of tonguing...no one can actually see what I am doing!! My teacher consistently says I use too much tongue pressure which I understand but I literally try to let my tongue "fall" onto the reed and she still says "too much pressure." I have decent breath support and try to keep a focused airstream and try to let my tongue "ride" on the air but I still fail. As a side note, I can't articulate well if I say "tee-tee-tee" without a mouthpiece, and I can't roll my r's.
I took lessons since 4th grade and underwent embouchure changes as well as articulation changes. For example, I used to not even hit the reed, but instead tongue on the roof of my mouth! This past year I have minimized throat movement greatly..this is the only visible progress I have made. Anyway...I can't describe the frustration I am feeling.

My setup is a Pyne Bel Canto (medium opening) and experimenting between blue box 4's and V12's. I know the Pyne mouthpieces can be "difficult" to articulate on but I try using my hite premier and still have the same issues.

Anyone else have similar issues? I know it's hard to help me since you don't "see" what's going on. I just feel like I am a decent player and I could be doing so much better...Responses greatly appreciated!

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