high note articulations
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high note articulations
As we know, as we ascend to the high notes, the tongue moves back and up, to narrow the airstream. Past a certain point, the tip of my tongue can no longer reach the top of my mouth. So then what? I can get a sort of "kah" working, like the back half of a double-tongue. It sounds pretty bad, but that could be due to my lack of practice up there.
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Re: high note articulations
Maybe "up and forward" instead?
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Re: high note articulations
Tee or Dee attack. The tongue will naturally find it's place and the abdominals will engage as well. Slow practice octaves from low to high then high to low.
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Re: high note articulations
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
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Re: high note articulations
I think probably what's happening is that I'm ascending above my comfort range using disproportionately too much tongue restriction, and not enough abs/air. So the problems I'm having at are due to a tongue position the pros don't use until the Steinmeyer range, where everything can be a natural slur.
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Re: high note articulations
Well, I don't think this is the right way to play high notes. Your tongue probably shouldn't move back, but should move forward instead. Tongueing high notes should be easy, as the tip of your tongue should be hanging out very close to your teeth.AtomicClock wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:58 am As we know, as we ascend to the high notes, the tongue moves back and up, to narrow the airstream. Past a certain point, the tip of my tongue can no longer reach the top of my mouth. So then what? I can get a sort of "kah" working, like the back half of a double-tongue. It sounds pretty bad, but that could be due to my lack of practice up there.
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Re: high note articulations
Well, I think I'm done with high notes for the day. But this is pretty interesting:
https://thelasttrombone.com/2017/08/22/ ... y-project/
https://thelasttrombone.com/2017/08/22/ ... y-project/
I try this, and my tongue certainly moves up and forward.However, in MBRP studies with other subjects, it has been found that when a person engages in “hollow whistling” – making the sound of air speed rising and falling through relaxed and slightly open lips without making an actual whistling sound – the tongue does mimic the movements the tongue makes while playing.
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Re: high note articulations
That practice you mention is effective and I learned it from Doug Elliot. Incorporate tah, tu, and tee in low, medium, and high ranges to match up with what you discover from the hollow whistling. But that's just one component, another is to know what direction your instrument should be directed to for those ranges. The only way I know of discovering that is through a lesson with Doug.AtomicClock wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:33 pm Well, I think I'm done with high notes for the day. But this is pretty interesting:
https://thelasttrombone.com/2017/08/22/ ... y-project/I try this, and my tongue certainly moves up and forward.However, in MBRP studies with other subjects, it has been found that when a person engages in “hollow whistling” – making the sound of air speed rising and falling through relaxed and slightly open lips without making an actual whistling sound – the tongue does mimic the movements the tongue makes while playing.
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Re: high note articulations
Heh. I find for myself neither is the case. My tongue stays in about the same position but I change vowels as I play higher - going to more of a "eu" sound. (Yes, this is not the "ee" in Arban's and I am skeptical of the precise vowel to be used because everyone s different and so are the actual implementations of vowels in different languages.)
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Re: high note articulations
He was also writing a cornet method book, not a low brass method book.AndrewMeronek wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:49 pm
Heh. I find for myself neither is the case. My tongue stays in about the same position but I change vowels as I play higher - going to more of a "eu" sound. (Yes, this is not the "ee" in Arban's and I am skeptical of the precise vowel to be used because everyone s different and so are the actual implementations of vowels in different languages.)
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
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Re: high note articulations
I have mentioned this before in response to articulation questions:
The tongue position where you say Nee is closer to the way you should play high notes. It uses just the very front part of the tongue, anchoring the middle on the inside of your teeth.
The tongue position where you say Nee is closer to the way you should play high notes. It uses just the very front part of the tongue, anchoring the middle on the inside of your teeth.
"I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two."
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Re: high note articulations
https://www.trombone.org/articles/view.php?id=62
As a learner, I am occasionally amazed whenever things that I've heard over and over and over... suddenly make sense. I thought I understood them before, but I REALLY get it now. At 50 years old, I think I just recently understood "corners" and "air support" for the first time, despite hearing those concepts discussed for a long time.... he said "You know, it used to puzzle me... students would come to my house; I'd give them an hour lesson, tell them just about everything I know, and then two weeks later they'd come back for another lesson and I'd end up telling them the same damned thing all over again...