DB

histrumpet · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2002 11:10 am Post subject:

I am not sure I grasp the concept of acticulation using the fingers. Can you explain this?

_Don Herman · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2002 11:59 am Post subject:

I've said this before, but what the heck...

Regarding articulation (with the tongue -- not sure how to articulate with my fingers -- are you talking about cleanly and quickly moving the valves?) my teacher and I developed an analogy to water from a faucet (or spigot, if you prefer). It goeth thusly:

The airflow is like the water from the faucet. When you tongue, it is like flicking your finger through the water -- the stream doesn't change, you just briefly interrupt it. Tonguing is NOT like turning the spigot (faucet) on and off!

FWIW - Don
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

_Don Herman · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2002 12:07 pm Post subject:

Following Dave's post (good job, that!) I might note that a couple of times when I've had problems tonguing a passage I tended to back off the air, trying to play "gentler" or maybe softer. Death to articulation -- in every case, what I really needed to do was to blow harder to provide more air support for the chops and tongue.

Should this be in the Fundamental Forum, BTW?

Great topic! - Don
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

Emb_Enh · Veteran Member Joined: 29 Oct 2002 Posts: 455

what I really needed to do was to blow harder to provide more air support for the chops and tongue.
=============================

Mr.Herman...may I suggest that you might like to think of it as not "blowing harder" [suggesting mass of air] but...

... "projecting a more focussed air-stream".

This may or may not be what you meant.

We are only typing after all...however I'm sure you managed to get the end result as you say.

Best Regards Roddy o-iii<O
_________________
Regards, Roddy o-iii RoddyTpt@aol.com

"E M B O U C H U R E___E N H A N C E M E N T"
BOOK 1 also... BOOK 2 + demo CD

[Self Analysis and Diagnostic Trumpet Method]

_Don Herman · Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:33 pm Post subject:

Hi Roddy,

No, this time I actually needed to blow more air. I was trying to focus the airstream into a neat little squirt, but just didn't have enough. In an effort to make my articulations dainty and fast, I cut down the wind. I thought less air would make it easier to tongue; the opposite was true. I find I need to blow a bit harder (as in "more air") to tongue cleanly, especially fast passages at medium or low (sonic) volume.

Good idea to think of focusing the airstream, regardless! And, may be just the thought for some of us. Just blowing away without thinking why and what may not help much. And as for my getting the end result, well, nothing's a given, including what the "end" was...

An interesting twist to this diatribe might be to ask what folks do when trying to tongue fast and clean in the upper register? Tonguing a little run in the staff seems easier than an octave over, at least for me.

All the Best! - Don
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley