 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: joeyscl
Date: 2007-06-24 09:15
I notice that as i get higher on the clarinet, I'm having trouble to tongue as fast as in the chalumeau register, any tips?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-06-24 10:10
Put a lot more air through the horn. It'll help with your tonguing. Also, if you need to tongue a repetitive note, sometimes alternate fingerings will make it easier. For instance for an altissimo F, the long F is much easier to repeatedly tongue than the "standard" F fingering.
Also, at least for me, I don't touch the tip of the reed when tonguing altissimo notes. I touch my tongue a little lower on the reed. As long as the reed stops vibrating, it'll stop making noise. Just makes it a little easier for me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-06-24 12:29
The higher you go on the horn, the shorter the amount of reed that vibrates. Tonguing is really only the act of the tongue LEAVING the reed. Never is this more clear than in the altissimo register. So, be light and use as little movement of the tongue as possible.
..........Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: shmeon
Date: 2007-06-24 14:05
A practice technique that I have found extremely useful is to practice one's articulation on the mouthpiece alone, or with the mouthpiece and barrel alone. A common problem with articulation (at least in my case) is that in addition to the air backing off I also tend to over tighten my embouchure. To remedy this I play the mouthpiece alone (it should sound like a high D or D#) and I practice my tonguing. Watch your tuner and make sure that when articulating the pitch does not change. You'll find that you are forced to stay more relaxed. Relaxation=more air and a faster tongue and better pitch. Slowly increase the articulation speed. I usually set the metronome at 60 and move up in sub divisions from half notes, to quarter notes, to triplets, etc. Also, when articulating in the upper register it is extremely important to never never never back off on the air. The air should be a constant force with interuptions made by the tongue, not the air stream. To practice this I use a thin coffee straw about 3 inches in length. I blow through it at what feels like a forte dynamic. When I articulate I place my tongue on the very tip of the straw creating a popping sound. When my tongue is down I keep pushing the air against it and when my tongue is removed the air bursts through the straw. You'll be surprise how this simple gadget will help your playing. The coffee straw makes you over focus your air and makes you push harder to get it out. It's like a baseball batter swinging 2 or 3 bats at one time before he steps into the batter's box with only one. It's an awesome training exercise.
-Dan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2007-06-25 03:04
Paul,
I'm not sure I understand what you meant by "Tonguing is really only the act of the tongue LEAVING the reed."
There are certainly times when I use my tongue to stop a note.
Have I misunderstood your comment?
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-06-25 17:32
Hans,
Though there have been much better treatises on this board (particularly by Tony Pay) I would OVER simplify the concept by stressing that when we stop the note on a clarinet we are ONLY stopping the reed from vibrating. This is accomplished by merely PLACING the tongue on the reed (a far cry from the hammering sort of concept some of think is necessary to articulate). To resume the sound (that is, vibration of the reed) one only has to remove the tongue from the reed ..........gently.
This is (I STRESS) on contrast to WHACKING the reed with the tongue which is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SirAdamWilliams
Date: 2007-06-26 20:24
I remember hearing this from one of my teachers along time ago:
"As long some part of your tongue touches some part of the reed, you'll be fine."
This statement has some truth to it, but not much. This may work in the lower parts of the clarinet register, but once you start to reach higher notes, a faulty tongue postion will show, usually with a "squaking" sound (undertones) accompanying the desired tone.
For higher tongueing, your tongue needs to be arched high in your mouth, and the tip of your tongue needs to be in contact with the tip of your reed.
I hope I could be of help!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-06-28 15:49
Quote:
This is (I STRESS) on contrast to WHACKING the reed with the tongue which is WRONG WRONG WRONG. Sadly, I once too was a whacker. But after joining this board I now use the same thought process that Paul's stated above. And it worked out much better for me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
