How do I improve my articulation on the clarinet?

How do I improve my articulation on the clarinet?

A simple approach to this is to have the student do the following:

1. Stick out their tongue.
2. Release, tongue back on reed, etc.
3. Place the tip of the tongue just below the tip of the reed.
4. Put the mouthpiece in the mouth without taking the tongue off,
5. Form the embouchure, inhale through the corners, blow (no sound)

Why does my clarinet squeak when I tongue?

Damaged reeds are a leading cause of clarinet squeaks. Also, if you hit the reed too hard with your tongue, it can produce a squeak. Finally, playing on dry reeds or with incorrect reed or ligature placement on your mouthpiece can also lead to squeaking.

Can you double tongue on a clarinet?

Yes! double tonguing is possible on the clarinet, and yes! you can learn to use it with similar fluency with which you use your single tongue. It was months before I had a useable double tongue, and a little longer before I felt comfortable using it in concert.

What’s the best way to articulate a clarinet?

The tongue and air are like the faucet and water pressure. Always use long tone air support, regardless of articulation style. Make sure you use a light tongue without any excess tension or pressure. There should be no chin or embouchure movement as you articulate. Any instability in the embouchure will result in an unsteady sound.

How is the tongue of a Spitfire clarinet articulated?

Spitfire articulation can be impressive, but only if it’s done so with a nice sound. The tongue should move minimal distance away from the reed. The shorter the note, the longer the tongue rests on the reed. Conversely, the longer the note, the shorter amount of time the tongue will rest on the reed.

What’s the best way to articulate a reed?

Use the tip of the tongue for traditional articulation. Using the tip allows the minimum amount of tongue to touch the reed, which allows us to create a light articulation. Using too much tongue surface area can result in a dull, thuddy articulation. Maintain minimal distance between the tongue and reed.

What do you think of tonguing on a clarinet?

Think of tonguing like bowing on a string instrument or finger motion on a piano. If you want to get a bit wild, you can think of tonguing like left hand motion on a theremin. As I continue my theremin journey, I’ve realize this is a useful visualization tool to help portray clarinet articulation.