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Re: tonguing high notes

Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-08-26 04:54

I did this too for quite a while. I'm much better now, but not 100% yet. Probably about 90%.

What helped me was to play long tones in the altissimo. While holding out that long tone, concentrate very hard on keeping the airstream and lightly touch your tongue to the reed and simply stop it from vibrating (air still going through the instrument). Hold it for about two seconds and lightly release the reed while concentrating on maintaining the same throat, air, etc. Essentially, train yourself slowly to separate the act of "articulating" from your airstream and open throat.

I still have some work to do personally. My fast articulations in any register are pretty darned good and my tongue barely moves. My personal problem is the slower the articulation (8ths vs 16ths, for example), the more time I have for my tongue to move farther from the reed and be able to return in time, and it creates a harshness to my sound. Back to the drawing board for me!!!

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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