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Re: Throat tensing/closing up when tonguing

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-02-28 15:33

Ok, it may be helpful to know that it is the back of your tongue that is becoming tense (it's much bigger than we think (not just the flap we see in our mouths).

The tension (and that is self imposed) is probably due to doing your new technique and then pushing it to its limit. If you're struggling to get the Mendelssohn up to 80 beats per minute then perhaps the issue has more to do with learning double tonguing (slower tongue issues are far more common than I used to think).

For now, relax as much as possible and try to just use the very tip of your tongue. Moving the entirety of it is a waste of energy and causes air problems.

Karl,

Stop tonguing is a Bonade thing. You just stop the reed from vibrating with your tongue and leave it there until you sound the next note by removing it briefly (and repeat). Done right it feels like your spitting watermelon seeds and the notes played this way sound like little droplets of water.

.............Paul Aviles

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