Staccato note precision with speed; tongue techniques
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 2:27 pm
I'd like to know what tongue techniques help maximize air control with speed, for staccato note playing and for highest speed, with precision. The On/Off control of air flow by using the tongue (which can also help create powerful attack to notes). I found what I think is the easiest and fastest way, and explain it below, but would like to hear about other methods.
I've seen in dozens of flute and wind instrument training books that the "ta-ka-ta" motion of the tongue, going forward/backward or up/down with the tongue can be used. When I first started playing I found a far faster, simpler and more natural method that I rely on.
Method: side to side motion of the tip of the tongue, used to control air release.
Instruction: First, form the air block by pressing the tongue towards the roof of the mouth this way → press the sides of the back quarter of the tongue against the left and right rows of gums supporting the upper teeth, to form an upper linear air channel braced at the back. Air coming out of the lungs must then go through that narrow high channel to get out of the mouth. Keeping the rest of the front of the tongue quite relaxed and free to move, place the front tip of the tongue lightly against the front and centre roof of the mouth about 1/2 inch above the teeth line on the inside of the mouth, just slightly higher than where the curve of the gum line with teeth meets the grand arc of the roof of the mouth. You'll feel the ridge of the area where the teeth are, curve sharply and then the smoother surface just above, where the roof of the mouth starts. Place the tip of the tongue there, about 1/4" or so, up into the roof of the mouth. Then try blowing air out and you should feel it entirely blocked because the tongue has formed a full barrier to air motion out of the mouth, when the tip is centred.
NOTE: after doing this many times to try to create these instructions, it's obvious that it helps at this point to firm up the embouchure and cheeks as if you are playing a flute or large whistle, recorder, sax, clarinet, etc.).
The tip of the tongue is then moved in a sweeping motion, left to right, about 1/2" to 3/4" off to each side. Air will flow freely when the tip of the tongue is moved to either side. IMPORTANT: You need to keep the tip of the tongue ALWAYS in contact with the front of the mouth, but only with a light pressure, enough to make an air seal when in the middle of the mouth. The tip must feel free enough to move VERY rapidly side to side, to sound like a trill of staccato notes.
Practice putting the tongue into position for this air trap to totally seal off air flow. The sides of the tongue seal off the air flow around the whole side of the tongue, at the same height along the upper gums, all the way around. You can move the tip of the tongue back and forth side-to-side far faster, and with far more precise control of air, than trying to move the tongue up/down or forward/backward with high speed. As soon as you move the tongue tip off to one side, air seal is broken and air flows at full speed out. With just a little practice of side-to-side motion of the tongue tip, a very fast and clearly defined staccato note sequence can be played with a lot of control over speed and precise stops/starts, and the tongue really doesn't get tired of this, because so little of the tongue moves very much. The back part of the tongue doesn't move at all, it's braced against the upper gums. Practice moving the tongue side to side as rapidly as possible, and feel the air starting and stopping in accord with where the tip of the tongue is. You should be able to hit 5 to maybe 10 notes a second.
It takes little effort once you know what you're doing. Practice tongue position up high as an air trap, then practice left/right motion of the tip of the tongue as an on/off air release, and then both, to get control of air perfected, with maximum speed. You can also practice it using different air pressures, from low to highest, to find out your ability to use this method to create a powerful attack on notes, if you want, or to relax it and make it much smoother in effect.
I've shown this method to other flute players and they went from "beginner" status to expert in about 1 minute. There's only so much to it.
If anyone has a successful method where the tongue is used as a stop/start air flow control by contacting the mouthpiece of the whistle, I'd like to know about it. I've tried it and it's possible but a little awkward, and prone to drive saliva into the windway, so I've dropped that idea.
I've seen in dozens of flute and wind instrument training books that the "ta-ka-ta" motion of the tongue, going forward/backward or up/down with the tongue can be used. When I first started playing I found a far faster, simpler and more natural method that I rely on.
Method: side to side motion of the tip of the tongue, used to control air release.
Instruction: First, form the air block by pressing the tongue towards the roof of the mouth this way → press the sides of the back quarter of the tongue against the left and right rows of gums supporting the upper teeth, to form an upper linear air channel braced at the back. Air coming out of the lungs must then go through that narrow high channel to get out of the mouth. Keeping the rest of the front of the tongue quite relaxed and free to move, place the front tip of the tongue lightly against the front and centre roof of the mouth about 1/2 inch above the teeth line on the inside of the mouth, just slightly higher than where the curve of the gum line with teeth meets the grand arc of the roof of the mouth. You'll feel the ridge of the area where the teeth are, curve sharply and then the smoother surface just above, where the roof of the mouth starts. Place the tip of the tongue there, about 1/4" or so, up into the roof of the mouth. Then try blowing air out and you should feel it entirely blocked because the tongue has formed a full barrier to air motion out of the mouth, when the tip is centred.
NOTE: after doing this many times to try to create these instructions, it's obvious that it helps at this point to firm up the embouchure and cheeks as if you are playing a flute or large whistle, recorder, sax, clarinet, etc.).
The tip of the tongue is then moved in a sweeping motion, left to right, about 1/2" to 3/4" off to each side. Air will flow freely when the tip of the tongue is moved to either side. IMPORTANT: You need to keep the tip of the tongue ALWAYS in contact with the front of the mouth, but only with a light pressure, enough to make an air seal when in the middle of the mouth. The tip must feel free enough to move VERY rapidly side to side, to sound like a trill of staccato notes.
Practice putting the tongue into position for this air trap to totally seal off air flow. The sides of the tongue seal off the air flow around the whole side of the tongue, at the same height along the upper gums, all the way around. You can move the tip of the tongue back and forth side-to-side far faster, and with far more precise control of air, than trying to move the tongue up/down or forward/backward with high speed. As soon as you move the tongue tip off to one side, air seal is broken and air flows at full speed out. With just a little practice of side-to-side motion of the tongue tip, a very fast and clearly defined staccato note sequence can be played with a lot of control over speed and precise stops/starts, and the tongue really doesn't get tired of this, because so little of the tongue moves very much. The back part of the tongue doesn't move at all, it's braced against the upper gums. Practice moving the tongue side to side as rapidly as possible, and feel the air starting and stopping in accord with where the tip of the tongue is. You should be able to hit 5 to maybe 10 notes a second.
It takes little effort once you know what you're doing. Practice tongue position up high as an air trap, then practice left/right motion of the tip of the tongue as an on/off air release, and then both, to get control of air perfected, with maximum speed. You can also practice it using different air pressures, from low to highest, to find out your ability to use this method to create a powerful attack on notes, if you want, or to relax it and make it much smoother in effect.
I've shown this method to other flute players and they went from "beginner" status to expert in about 1 minute. There's only so much to it.
If anyone has a successful method where the tongue is used as a stop/start air flow control by contacting the mouthpiece of the whistle, I'd like to know about it. I've tried it and it's possible but a little awkward, and prone to drive saliva into the windway, so I've dropped that idea.