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Hello all.
The question is... Where do you place your tongue when you play?=20
Over the past year or so I have been making a change in my playing with =
respect to the placement of the tongue. This is a big challenge but one =
that is well worth it as it has improved my sound. In querying a number =
of great shakuhachi players on this matter, both American and Japanese, =
I have gotten a variety of responses as to where folks put the tongue. =
Almost everyone agrees, however, that this is an interesting question, =
and an aspect of playing and teaching that is generally not covered.
Until now I have put the tongue pressing up against the lower lip when I =
play. This method offers several advantages but also some big =
disadvantages. Advantages: it keeps the mouth and lips forward when =
playing and it is good for meris. It also offers a sense of security. =
Disadvantages: you play too flat, and the sound, while good, is never =
really focused.=20
There are several options for placing the tongue. One is to simply let =
it hang out loosely in the mouth. Another is to press it up against the =
back teeth. Another is to curl it upwards slightly. Depending on the =
different colors and pitches you want to make, you can move the tongue =
into different positions as you play. I have adapted the hang out method =
primarily but often press it into the lower lip for meris and dai meris, =
and occasionally move it around during a long note to help change the =
color.=20
All thoughts on this matter are welcome.
James
____________________
James Nyoraku Schlefer
Shakuhachi
www.nyoraku.com
(718) 499-7793
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<DIV>Hello all.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The question is... Where do <U>you</U> place <U>your</U> tongue =
when you=20
play? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Over the past year or so I have been making a change in my playing =
with=20
respect to the placement of the tongue. This is a big challenge but one =
that is=20
well worth it as it has improved my sound. In querying a number of great =
shakuhachi players on this matter, both American and Japanese, I =
have=20
gotten a variety of responses as to where folks put the tongue. Almost =
everyone=20
agrees, however, that this is an interesting question, and an aspect of =
playing=20
and teaching that is generally not covered.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Until now I have put the tongue pressing up against the lower lip =
when I=20
play. This method offers several advantages but also some big =
disadvantages.=20
Advantages: it keeps the mouth and lips forward when playing and it =
is good=20
for meris. It also offers a sense of security. Disadvantages: you =
play too=20
flat, and the sound, while good, is never really focused. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There are several options for placing the tongue. One is to simply =
let it=20
hang out loosely in the mouth. Another is to press it up against the =
back teeth.=20
Another is to curl it upwards slightly. Depending on the different =
colors=20
and pitches you want to make, you can move the tongue into different =
positions=20
as you play. I have adapted the hang out method primarily but often =
press it=20
into the lower lip for meris and dai meris, and occasionally move it =
around=20
during a long note to help change the color. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All thoughts on this matter are welcome.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>James</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>____________________<BR>James Nyoraku Schlefer<BR>Shakuhachi<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.nyoraku.com">www.nyoraku.com</A><BR>(718)=20
499-7793<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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