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Re: tonguing high notes

Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-08-22 22:27

Tonguing is the most difficult thing to teach since a teacher can't see what the student is doing and too often the students can't describe it properly either. There are all types of mis information about what to do from all sorts of people meaning well. The biggest problem is that not everyone is the same. Is your tongue bigger or thicker than average? Do you keep your throat free and opened all the times? Do you used proper breath support. Tip of tongue, well yea if possible but it doesn't have to be the very tip, it may be better for you a tiny bit from the actually tip, it depends on what I said above. Many people say to raise the tongue as you go up high, but how much? Too much and you will choke off the air making yourself force it through too small an opening. Tongue to low and all hell can break out. Think about this. If you think you are tonguing well and properly before you reach the register that you begin having a problem then ask yourself what are you changing. Once you can figure that out you may solve the problem if you can. Yes, you do want to arch the tongue, the question is how much. I've always taught to have the back of the tongue up by or in-between your upper molars and then slightly raise the front of the tongue as little as neccessary to achieve the result that works for you, not for someone else. At the same time you need to keep your throat unimpeded so the air flows. And you have to voice the throat as if you're singing those high notes. Also experiment with the placement of your tongue, the tip, slightly back etc. Check my website articles too.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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