Re: Tonguing Problems


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Posted by JJ on January 21, 2000 at 03:48:31:

In Reply to: Tonguing Problems posted by I'll chop it off!!! on January 20, 2000 at 18:40:47:

The Methods teach TU KU or TOO KOO. Without the mp try, TiKaTiKa. With the mp it will change a little, tongue forward probably, you do what is natural for you. Then to the horn. The slow approach is right for whatever you do with this. But, additionaly, do the Ka only, that is Ka Ka Ka, playing repeated notes and scales in that style, which can only be played slowly, concentrating on the clarity and sharpness of the attack, this is not easy and comes slowly and with patience. Continue with the slow Ti Ka, but also reverse and do Ka Ti, focusing on the Ka with an accent. The whole point is to get the Ti and Ka to sound equal.

When triple tonguing, use both TiTiKa,Ti and TiKaTi,Ti interchangably, learning one first until you are comfortable with it and then add the other. Use which ever you find best, but do both for the facility. Double tonguing can be done with the same sounds. Not only TiKaTiKa,TiKaTiKa,Ti(16th) but alternately, TiKaTiTi,TiKaTiTi,Ti and TiTiKaTi,TiTiKaTi,Ti(my preference). Why alternates? Because the weakness of the regular way, is that there is a tendency to lessen the last sound of the group(Ka), it lacks emphasis. You can hear it. You want a clean attack on the last sound of the first group and the first Ti of the next group, that is Ti,Ti. This will help to equalize each note. To make it undetectable, you need the same emphasis on the last sound of the group and the first sound of the next group. You do not get that emphasis with TiKaTiKa,Ti. Example, the trio of Stars and Stripes at mm128 or faster(if you can single in time, good for you),instead of TiKaTiKaTiyah, try TiTiKaTiTiyah(takes practice),it eliminates that weakness and allows you to accent the slur more easily. Another example, Barnam and Bailey's Favorite and many of the standard marches with quick sections, at mm128 or more, where you are trying to have equality, brightness and clarity without the muddiness or sluggishness. Becoming facile with the two alternate versions of double tonguing, your double tonguing will sound like single. It all is done slowly, with concentration, with patience and much repitition. When you go back to single tonguing you will find that you are faster. Tempos above 160, I find only TiKaTiKa,Ti will do.



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