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Re: wolf tones?

Author: jaytaylor
Date: 2008-03-23 18:21

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the advice!

Today's not a usual practice day for me, but I've taken out the clarinet here to try out some of the things you suggested.

I played a clarion g in front of a mirror (well, more from the side), and tried tonguing it over and over. It didn't appear to be my jaw moving, or my embouchure, but it's obviously hard to tell what's going on inside my mouth! It doesn't FEEL like my embouchure's changing.

I don't believe I'm anchor tonguing, since the sensation is more similar to "ta-ta-ta" or "du-du-du" then it is "nyeh-nyeh-nyeh".

Should it tickle the tip of your tongue when tonguing? Or does that mean the reed isn't being completely stopped from vibrating?

I'm supposed to be using the very tip of my tongue to touch the very tip of the reed? Is that right? I think what I've been doing is touching the bottom of the reed, towards the very tip. Although, I've been making sure that I don't actually push the reed up against the mouthpiece.

It seems like if I do a more legato tonguing, there isn't any strange tone at the beginning of the note. It's when I leave my tongue on the reed for a rest, and THEN remove my tongue to play the next note.

You've said to keep the air pressure constant while my tongue is on the reed. Is this supposed to be silent? Because when I try that it sounds as if my tongue is sliding around on the reed or something! Some sort of spit-sound!

I tend to try and practice an hour a day, but that doesn't usually work out since my lips tire before the hour is up.

I'm assuming this is a problem that will go away once my tonguing improves. I'll try the repeated note exercises you recommended. Thanks for the help everyone!

Jay

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