| Bear- Articulation has always been a problem for me, too. I had a teacher once tell me (building on Manny's consistency approach here) that the key to articulation is endurance of the tongue muscle. Something I heard James Thompson do in a masterclass was this: if you have Herbert Clarke's Characteristic Studies, there are some fine excercises in there(right in the beginning before the etudes) to help build that endurance and consistency. Also, Sigmund Hering's Etudes in All Keys has some great studies to build articulation. Play them slowly so you can listen to yourself carefully and achieve a consistent attack. Another approach I was offered by one of Hickman's students (my college professor) was to go into Arban's to the syncopation studies, play them at very slow tempos, and flutter-tongue the long notes. According to him, Hickman's opinion is that flutter and a clear T sound are produced in the same place. Again, listen carefully to yourself for the character of your attack.
Hope that helps; it works for me.
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-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting |