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Basics of Flute Playing, Tone Production and Fingerings

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Beginner
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Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:54 am

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Post by Beginner »

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Last edited by Beginner on Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Kim
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:02 am

Re: Should the tongue touch the teeth?

Post by Kim »

Hi,
I personally don't touch my teeth when tounging. I have heard and read that touching the teeth is the "French" way of tounging. I don't personally think it is a " should or shouldn't ".

Kim

amhso
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Location: Pleasanton
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Post by amhso »

i think tu is more popular, my flute teacher and the 3 band instructors ive had all use tu.

ick27
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Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:25 am

Post by ick27 »

I know this post is from a month ago, but I think it's still worth talking about.
I frequently tongue with my tongue in between my teeth, just barely touching the inside of my upper lip (this is the so called "French" tonguing). I do tongue in other places as well, like where the teeth meet the gums, but I tend to keep my tongue forward most of the time.

Syllables like "tu", "du", "ti" or whatever, are helpful tools to learn how to tongue, but if you really tongue like you are saying these syllables, your tongue will be stronger than it needs to be. The sort of tongue motion you need to articulate on flute is more forward and less forceful that the tongue motion used when speaking English I think.

Really though, do whatever works. If you can tongue clearly and quickly without getting tired, you've hit the pay dirt! I think it really helps to record your playing, because it's really impossible to hear your articulation as you play for some reason. When I record myself, the articulation seems most different from how I hear myself play (and often it doesn't sound very good on the recording.)

I have talked to many superb professional flutists who use "French" tonguing (between the teeth or lips) and many others who only tongue behind the teeth, so obviously both ways can work well. It's certainly worth exploring as many possible methods of articulation as possible though.

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