The most frustrating thing

[Nefertiti]

I have to say that the most frustrating thing is when a kid is not tonguing correctly. I describe how to tongue. I demonstrate it. They try to do it lesson after lesson and when they describe what's happening in their mouth it sounds right in description but it doesn't sound right. Does anyone have any tips on things that you've seen kids do wrong in this regard and how to fix it. I descibe it as "You use the tip area of your tongue to touch the tip area of the reed to begin the note. Like saying Ta" I have some students that can't stop moving there jaw when they do it. I have some that make a sound from there throat when they tongue. I have others whose pitch bends all over the place as they tongue because of what I would imagine is there tongue being way to high. Thanks. :dazed:

[Keith Ridenhour]

I think what you described sounds close to what I used to teach. I always add that the goal is to barely touch the tip of the tongue to the reed to get the reed to stop vibrating. (In other words air pressure doesn't stop as the tongue stops the reed from vibrating.) Typically they tongue too much as you describe so I tell them to be "lazy", do less. Takes very little movement to get the job done. It is frustrating. K

[Nefertiti]

Thanks Keith that helps. I love hearing other peoples ideas and thoughts on teaching. I had a student last year that was always a half step flat from everyone else.I couldn't figure it out. The one day I was asking him again about the way he's tonguing and he says that his tongue is ALWAYS on the reed. He was playing with part of his tongue always on the reeed about half way down. He took it off and played the normal way and his pitch is fine now.

[CSharp]

Okay, I'm definitely not in your league when it comes to experience, rather, I've been playing for less than 2 years. That being said, I'm still learning the basics and I have made a discovery recently with regards to tonguing that you might find useful.

Since it is close to Christmas, I picked up a new song book called "Twelve Styles of Christmas" by James L. Horsay. One of the songs, "Carol of the Bells", causes me to tongue much like you describe...and it almost comes naturally. My air stream stays constant and when I tongue, I can feel it in my belly (sudden stop/start - bouncing if you know what I mean). Like you said, the "Ta" syllable, and I'm barely touching the reed when I do it.

What has been interesting to me is that this is the first song that I've played where I actually feel my tonguing in my belly. I'm not cutting the air stream off at my throat and I am just barely touching the reed. All the dynamics are clearly apparent to me and after playing this song several times, I believe I am learning the proper technique for tonguing.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is sometimes hard to describe feeling. Perhaps using this song in this book might help. The keys to me are to keep a steady air stream and to stop the flow by using your tongue [against the reed] only.

Let me know what you think.