Back to School!
Packing, moving, unpacking, upper respiratory infection, auditions, buying a new piccolo, getting to know a new city, new school, new people, hurricane panic...
A lot is happening. But mostly, I'm thrilled to be starting the semester as a teaching assistant at Florida State.
Because the practice rooms at FSU do not have music stands in them, I've felt encouraged to spend more time working in front of the mirror.
Today, I decided to open my mouth, stick my tongue out, and take a look at the back of my mouth and throat. The photo from the Soft Palate post is helpful.
In doing so, I realized that there's more space back there than I realized. I consciously know that the back of my tongue is the front of my throat, but in observing it in the mirror, I was able to understand how air moves up and out of my wind pipe and into my mouth. I could envision air spilling up and over my tongue. Additionally, I was able to relax my tongue, knowing that only the tip is necessary for articulation. After experimenting, I was able to double-tongue faster and with more "support."
What does "support" mean? My next post will identify what "support" is and is not.
A lot is happening. But mostly, I'm thrilled to be starting the semester as a teaching assistant at Florida State.
Because the practice rooms at FSU do not have music stands in them, I've felt encouraged to spend more time working in front of the mirror.
Today, I decided to open my mouth, stick my tongue out, and take a look at the back of my mouth and throat. The photo from the Soft Palate post is helpful.
In doing so, I realized that there's more space back there than I realized. I consciously know that the back of my tongue is the front of my throat, but in observing it in the mirror, I was able to understand how air moves up and out of my wind pipe and into my mouth. I could envision air spilling up and over my tongue. Additionally, I was able to relax my tongue, knowing that only the tip is necessary for articulation. After experimenting, I was able to double-tongue faster and with more "support."
What does "support" mean? My next post will identify what "support" is and is not.