| STORY TIME!!!
My current instructor was a student of both James Stamp and Mario Guarnerri. They were both big on articulation, as well as the concept of sound in general. (I'm being "granfathered in," boo-yah) I'm currently working on the Goedicke Concert Etude as part of an audition tape, and this piece is big on light articulation. In fact, the articulation is what makes this piece. So, I'm also working on improving my light articulations.
Turn on your water faucet. Full blast. Now, move your hand through it. The water is interrupted a bit, but the water continually flows. Think of your air and tongue like this. The tongue should not get into the way, be set too high when you play.
Okay, first thing first. Play though a piece you notice you sound "TUBBY" playing. Stop after you start getting FUDGY and MUDDY, and go back. Now, slur the piece to that point. Any repeated notes, play as one continuous note. You will notice you try and manipulate the air at some points with your throat, or you may make other mistakes. Make a note of this, go back, and do it again until this is perfect.
When we rely on the tongue to do too much, we also start relying on the throat to help squeeze for us. Your problem with tubby articulation is your tongue being placed to high to start, the throat forcing the air out to make the tongue react. You're blowing at the tongue, not through the horn.
Van
__________________
Stage 1 California Light
'94 Bach Strad 37
1900 Eb Cornet
LOUD Steve Patrick 10 1/2 C
LOUD LM93 |