Author: smross
Date: 2006-01-17 12:16
Something that helps me conceptualize proper tongue placement (and consequently proper tonguing in general) is this: play a note (like open G for instance) and then slowly bring the tip of your tongue forward until it is barely touching the reed, all the while continuing to produce sound. It should be like the reed is "tickling" your tongue, or something to that effect. After getting used to this feeling, barely bring the tongue back in a repeated motion and tongue a string of sixteenth notes rapidly (remembering that there is truly little motion of the tongue taking place). That should be how it feels to tongue rapidly.
Also, when I get so caught up in practicing a passage with a lot of articulation, I often forget the other elements of playing, primarily AIR SUPPORT. Never abandon this. Push the air stream beyond the tongue all the way through the resonance of sound. Hope this helps!
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