The tongue muscle

Greetings,

Once again the important subject of the tongue...

Position and use of the tongue muscle in wind or brass playing is second only in importance to air usage.

This week it occurred to me the students with seeming air flow problems could actually be restricting their air with some portion of their tongue...soooo....I studied images of the tongue muscle and saw that it is probable that the epiglottis is closed or partially closed while these students are blowing, causing inefficient use of air and tension in the throat.

Since I think it helps to picture what you are trying to feel, I posted a tongue image with labels.

The epiglottis of your tongue releases when you whisper "eh, eh, eh, eh, eh." (It is a relaxed, gentle, clicking sound.

Try whispering this just before you play (without breathing in between the "saying" and the "playing") and compare the position of the epiglottis when you are actually playing. Can you keep the epiglottis released while you play?

Best,
Catherine