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Re: Staccatos Under A Slur?

Author: Katrina
Date: 2013-11-11 14:42

I think Lelia gets close to what I do. When I use "legato tonguing" I do use a differently-shaped tongue than when I use other types of articulation.

Additionally, Tony's right too. I am not using my air the exact same way I do when I use other articulations too.

For me, when teaching 10-14 year-olds the concept I use "tee" for "normal" (hah!) tonguing and "lee" for legato tonguing. I tell them to use the air strongly in both cases, because for my students that's usually what's causing articulation problems in the beginning.

In reality, however, I am using a much more subtle combination of muscles. When I post here, I tend to lean toward my "teacher explanations" which are geared towards my beginner students.

For example, last week I had many students faced with this sentence in their book: "Remember to use full breath support to control your tone at all dynamic levels." (This is in the same block of text where dynamics are introduced for the first time.)

I asked everyone of them (all 10 years old) what they thought it meant. None had any clue. Working with them with the sections of the sentence, the "translation" we found was this: "Remember to use your tummy muscles in order to sound pretty no matter how loud or soft (or in between) you play."

Obviously "tummy muscles" is an oversimplification. These kids are on their 4th or 5th lesson with me. I've been told not to let this group of students learn at their own pace, in order to support the band directors' in-school lessons. So no jumping ahead for the more advanced ones. (Whole other topic there.)

My posts here reflect the nature of the teaching I do in my "real life." I can only hope that by presenting a range of opinions on these topics we (the BBoard community at large) can reach as many levels of reader as possible!

Thanks for reading if you got this far...
Katrina

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Staccatos Under A Slur?

Johnny Galaga

2013-11-09 01:19