Intro to ARTICULATION/tongue! | Team Recorder

THIS is the secret that will make your recorder playing more expressive and more beautiful! Yep - learning how to use your tongue, or ARTICULATION!
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In this video I go over the different ways we can articulate, varying the length of each note, and which consonants to use for the strength of each note. Plus some tips for practising, and some books I recommend!
//// BOOKS MENTIONED
- 'The Modern Recorder Player vol. 1' by Walter van Hauwe, published by Schott
- 'The Complete Articulator' by Kees Boeke, published by Schott
- 'The Finishing Touch to Practising' by Bart Spanhove, published by Moeck
In this video I play on a 442 alto by Yoav Ran.
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Don't forget to check out my other videos, and SUBSCRIBE! Turn notifications on by clicking the 'bell' icon, then you never miss a thing. A new video will be posted every week!
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Website: www.sarahjeffery.com
Twitter/Instagram @sockmyshoe
Go #teamrecorder

[@faramund9865]

Wow, thanks for this video. You won't believe this, but I was sticking my tongue into the recorders hole... This make a world of a difference for playing!

[@shawnmcintire4093]

I would love to see you do a video of an (ironic) review of a cheap plastic Dollar store, or equivalent, recorder! You have lots of humor, and it would make my day.

[@Team_Recorder]

Haaaaa, I like this idea...

[@phyllischan3696]

Scarecrow1000 😊hi, but I know there are lots of students or music lovers can just afford cheap instrument like plastic recorders still play with joy and appreciating music. I'm thinking if Sarah can demonstrate how far an inexpensive recorder can reach so that music will no longer something just for the rich. 👍🏻👍🏻😀

[@shawnmcintire4093]

Phyllis Clan, I believe that investing in good records can really help starting musicians in the long run.

[@phyllischan3696]

Yes, you are right. Those really cheap recorders r no good to play. However, there are still some high quality plastic ones made in Japan and Taiwan that are precisely made.

[@andreacareless4141]

Yamaha makes good recorders for students -- and adults who can play quite well but don't have enough money for a good wooden instrument (such as moi). Not the very cheapest versions, but the next step up. For example, the YRS24B Soprano. About $30 CDN. The alto is especially nice. I play clarinet as well, and Yamaha makes a good student instrument.

[@elizabethkamber4044]

Thank you! I’m in a Bass class and the instructor gave us a little guidance on legato and “dot” tonguing but your through coverage with fantastic demonstration is what I needed!

[@redomisia]

I’m so happy that I found this channel. Sarah you are amazing. Great explanation and awesome examples.

[@paulsonap6]

A wonderful video----thanks so much! (I especially love your book suggestions.) I look forward to all your videos!

[@nickstoolkit1515]

Like I was waiting for years for this video!!

[@qnguyen1947]

Thank you Sarah for your excellent tutorial , to me , it's not just for recorder , it's for wind instruments in general . You have opened a new panorama for me . Very much appreciated.

[@juantxovega7610]

A good exercise for articulation: 1-Choose a passage you want to practice. Then think about the kind of articulation you want to use on this particular passage and play it blowing into the recorder but without closing any hole, only with the rhythm. This way you can listen if you are actually using the articulation you have chosen. If not, practice until you hear what you want to hear. 2-Turn the body of the recorder to the right or to the left, so the holes are now turned towards one side. Then play the passage again moving your fingers correctly as if they were closing the holes (but, of course, they are not). Very often the movement of the fingers influence the movement of the tongue, so you probably won´t hear the same articulation you were using in step 1. If this happens, practice until you hear it exactly the same as in step 1. 3- Put the holes in the right position and play it. Congratulations Sarah for your videos, they are really useful

[@Team_Recorder]

This is great, thanks for sharing!

[@jamesbasye2137]

Ok

[@Ignaciospisso]

This video is very educational and useful! I just love how you explain things!

[@gayleheimer1862]

Thank you, Sarah, for this excellent video on articulation. In vol. 3 of Hauwe's The Modern Recorder Player, he describes glottal stops for articulation, especially double tonguing. I'd love to hear and see your explanation of this technique.

[@resofactor]

Your Channel is soooooooooooooooooo awesome Sarah! With synths or VST plug-ins is one thing. With an instrument stretching it on an instrument is another thing. Working with a real physical instrument recently like my newly acquired Tenor Recorder is really hitting all spheres of the mind into new domains.

[@CavyWheek]

I’m so thankful to have access to your great videos and instruction. I have only been a subscriber for a short time, but about 6 times already I have had a problem while practicing (The latest two were squeaky low notes and how to use my tongue.) I come here to your youtube page or to Patreon, and lo and behold, there’s a video with a detailed explanation on how to avoid the problem! Learning an instrument is so much more fulfilling and fun when there is a resource like this available when problems arise. And that’s not even counting all the browsing and watching I do just for fun. Thank you so much Sarah!!

[@aldotanca9430]

Thanks for all these tutorials you put together, they are very useful! In reality I play reeds, not recorder, which brings back awful school memories of a truly bad teacher who never quite explained how to play. As a kid, when I finally saw someone playing it well I was astonished that the thing could actually produce a lovely sound :D But recently I got myself an EWI, an electronic woodwind which is surprisingly expressive when played well but requires a tecnique closer to a recorder. Being used to a sax, I find myself having to manage with very light breath lots of things I would normally do with more pressure on a reed, and my fingers are used to rest on keys rather than keeping clear of the "holes" (the EWI has touch sensitive keys rather than holes). So well, I hope it does not sounds too weird, but your tutorials are quite useful to at least one person who does not play the recorder :)

[@valeriemariedooley9297]

Hi Sarah! I love this and find it very helpful. I was a bit worried about 'playing fast and loose' with timing though.Thanks! Val

[@ogaioeu]

Thanks Sarah, for sharing all your knowledge with us. Learning lots your videos. : )

[@luapsel77]

Sarah, I LOVE ❤😍 your Recorder lessons! SO easy to Understand, yet SO Unknown to me! I've been a guitarist for over 30 years, and recently I've been trying to teach myself piano/keyboards, and recorder.... You have given me a WEALTH of information about playing it!.. I wish I could get together with you, and have you give me private lessons, I'm sure I would improve much quicker! But no matter what, I just wanted to THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart....I've ALWAYS LOVED, the sound of Flute /Recorder, since I first heard Stairway to Heaven, and even before that! You are a Godsend, my dear! Thanks ❤ P.S.- I'm learning the Life/Prometheus flute piece, from the movie "Prometheus".. it's SUCH a Beautiful melody..."Elegy to Elizabeth"... I'm gonna Re-name it : "Elegy to Sarah"......

[@Team_Recorder]

Awww thank you!

[@AndreyOkhrimets]

Thank you so much, great tips. Helps great as a sopilka player

[@arjanioo]

Thanks a lot, your tutorial is really helpful!

[@1hungryBo1]

9:40 Yay recorder book tour!!

[@patrick600]

I think that video with some tips about buying second hand recorder would be useful. I am not going to buy one soon but for anybody who is looking for used recorder few tips how to avoid buying bad one would be incredibily helpful.

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah, that is a great idea!

[@Drewster58]

The subleties of articulation, very useful instructions.

[@sleepydrJ]

9.7 K !!!! Congrats! Almost there!

[@fsaczb]

Portato is such a funny word. Also thank you for the wonderful lesson. I play the ocarina and found T and D articulation naturally. But this video enlightened me of this wonderful technique.

[@quironjl]

Thanks Sara! Very good videos!

[@Reindeerin]

For me as a tin whistle player it is quite funny that there are people, as you say, who have trouble playing legato, as whistle players play almost only legato! :d I'm now working on my articulation to go beyond traditional folk music and it's hard to play everything BUT legato :D

[@aprilmunday1152]

Thank you, Sarah, that was helpful. I use the Complete Articulator in my technical sessions, but I have to confess that it doesn't always make sense to me. It has made me think more about my articulation, though. I love your suggestion of playing a Baroque passage with every possible articulation until you find what's beautiful.

[@Team_Recorder]

I agree April, sometimes the Complete Articulator is a bit dense... I like substituting their suggesting articulation with my own patterns, or using it to practice double or triple tonguing. Hours of fun! :D :P

[@aprilmunday1152]

Thanks, Sarah. I'll give that a go.

[@TonyBittner-Collins]

Thanks again Sarah for another wonderful video. Just a small contribution at 7:58 that specific region behind one's teeth is referred as 'the alveolar ridge' and it's the point of articulation of alveolar sounds such as the one you mentioned earlier /t/ /d/ /r/ /l/.

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah yes, thanks for pointing that out!

[@jimmagwojo2718]

Hey Sara great to have another recorder video to mull on. It did lead to me making some rather strange faces to my colleagues as i tried out the tongue in exercises in my mouth. I could literally see them edging away in their seats from me :-D I really love the topic though and would love to hear more, perhaps seeing you take one of your favourite simpler pieces and then using it as a test bed of a few the most common ways or articulating would be nice ... because gosh the fight to de-abstract this is real

[@Team_Recorder]

Haha, I would have loved to have seen that! Yep, it is an abstract concept... >< I\m gonna think on that one!

[@shouldi9575]

bought a plastic recorder few days ago..your videos are very nice, tnx

[@charward6417]

Wow. It's kind of amazing how good you are.

[@i2harry]

I remember as kids, we just gave up articulation and start/stop the notes with breath.

[@bastianquinteros1032]

Yay! At least the new video! :) Sarah, you're amazing. Love your videos! Question, my second octave G in alto recorder sounds with air noise :( I'm using a Yamaha 38BIII Plastic Recorder, do you think this is because of the recorder or my technique? Other recorders (wooden ones) don't sound like that in my opinion. Thanks in advance!

[@xmaxrus5392]

Big thanks! Now i`m understand what my tongue needs to do :)

[@andreacareless4141]

Oh, Sarah, I am in recorder love with you. All your videos are great. This one is one of my favourites! :-) Btw, I've subscribed to your channel but I don't get your emails.

[@luckybarrel7829]

Ok this explanation was really good. Articulation is daunting for sure. Somehow I keep changing the pitch of the sound when I try.

[@lucasflauta]

On the Suzuki Recorder Method we start with different articulations since the first musics!

[@rubenmsk]

sarah please make a review of the yamaha yrf-21 the recorder fife pleeeease pleeeease!!

[@sydneywhitfield7497]

thanks for the helpful video

[@emilylyon8906]

Question:i play solo pieces and occasionally group pieces on the recorder at school(this is all practice for gcses)and i get so scared i feel like my breathing is absoloute terrible and makes it shaky and sometimes squeeky.Is there any methods that you know of to manage the stress and being nervous before and during a performance so my breathing isnt awfull so i can give a performance i know i can delivier.(if that makes any sense😂)

[@DishonorableMentions452]

Thank you sm you saved my throat

[@andreacareless4141]

When playing early music and you want to play to legato, what's your opinion: do you do pure slurring i.e., don't use the tongue at all, or do you do something like L or R?

[@jplain02130]

Would you mind commenting on the articulation that uses r? The tip of the tongue never touches the roof of the mouth in the r most often used in American-accented English, so I'm assuming it should be an alveolar r, like the one used in Spanish.

[@Team_Recorder]

Hi Carolyn, yes it is the alveolar r I am referring to! Like a very soft 't' or 'd' sound, more similar to the 'l'.

[@danielbelmir0]

I find i'ts hard to use G and D consonants. I usually use T and R, unless I'm playing something fast and I use T and K. L is something new that I will try to use.

[@cadydenning-kras2907]

Do you use the tip of your tongue? I’ve just noticed that I tongue with not the top but like the upper middle-ish part of my tongue. I’m new should I not be doing this? I used to play the sax so maybe that’s where is came from? Idk. Any advice would help.

[@mlynn9361]

feel like when I'm playing theres a bit of a click or pop when I tongue a note and I worry it comes out into the music, or like I'm singing into it by accident...

[@mattfangrecorderstudio8325]

Very very useful..im having a hard time explaining this to adult beginners..

[@jonathonblues4006]

Are there any books for soprano?

[@carstenfranciseduardveraar8757]

thaaaaaaaaaanks sarah!

[@bill.strain]

So how do you stop the note? I hear lots of players who just stop blowing, but the note then drops off and goes a little flat right at the end. How do you get a nice clean stop that maintains the pitch?

[@VanessaDaiana23]

Sarah: qué articulación utilizás para unir la corchea con puntillo? T-R o T-D? GHracias.

[@Team_Recorder]

I do T-D because of my British accent, T-R is difficult for native English speakers!

[@VanessaDaiana23]

Ja ja ja thanks! Obviously as to me to do didll didll . Its impossible. Ja ja ja. Thank you very much from Argentina.

[@MarandaRussell82]

Have you ever dealt with defeating self-talk while practicing? Discouragement if you get a lot of squeaks, feeling like you aren't making any progress forward, listening to others who have a mastery of the craft and comparing yourself negatively? I know some of this is just struggling with being a perfectionist, but it can still affect your motivation.

[@denisbax5961]

Hi poetry! Question's not for me, but i'm there so: Remember that self reciprocation is alike to positive feedback loop in electronics. No real input (self fed is of self so is object to control) should not concern. When one loops himself without action it means body inability most likely - run, eat well, f a girl, girls love it. Self centered positive feedback loop is just like a loop "irl" - get away from the darn speaker, willya!, or lower sens. Do not loop on self - free it, do more get more input; remember of body - if you overtense neck f.e. no blood for brain no control of muscle. Eat well, drink lotsa water warm, 4+ l/day.

[@lauramingo2027]

your accent gives me strength

[@andreacareless4141]

It's not an accent. You're the one with an accent! ;-)

[@fuckbored4724]

On the last note before I take a breath, should I generally stop that note with my tongue then breathe? Sorry if this is a very simple question -- I'm a beginner

[@sashakindel3600]

It's strange to me that it seems universal among wind players to say that t is a more incisive articulation and d is a less incisive one; from the linguistic perspective, the only difference between t and d is that one's vocal cords vibrate for the latter, which is to say, one would never actually be articulating a d on purpose while playing unless one is executing the extended technique of singing while playing. Which isn't to say that the wind player's t/d distinction isn't intuitive to me, I just don't know *why* it's intuitive. I have a double tonguing technique that is different from anything I've heard anyone else describe before. Rather than alternating the articulation point between the front and the back of the mouth, I have all the articulation take place at the front, as in pronouncing a t, but with the concavity of my tongue switching back and forth; in one position, the tongue is curved upward with the tip touching the alveolar ridge, and in the other, it's curved down, with the tip touching the lower teeth and a region further down the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. I have a somewhat lower speed cap on this kind of tonguing than traditional t-k double tonguing, but I find it much easier to avoid getting tripped up using it, and it suffices in almost all cases.

[@dhu2056]

I think you forgot that the t in English is aspirated in the beginnings of words

[@stevehoey5722]

Yes! I have thought the same regarding t/d. D is simply the t phoneme voiced. The difference seems to be the pressure buildup behind the tip of the tongue just before release. More pressure gives an "aspirated t", less pressure results in a less aspirated "d" (though not vocalized). When I try to demonstrate to someone the difference between "t" and "d" without vocalizing the "d" consonant, the difference is in the pressure strength of the articulation and how quickly/abruptly I stop the airstream with the tip of the tongue. Placement of the tongue in the mouth (e.g., higher in the palate) softens the attack. But it is not a "d". Linguistics 101.

[@Kyle-hb1go]

what was the song in 2:31?

[@khosrotohidi7575]

Excellent lessons by funny girl

[@pgruchala]

Hello Sarah and all ye Merry Players, I'm in need of a second opinion. There is a thing I don't quite get when it comes to T-D (and K-G) articulation. Mainly, the T and D have the same place of articulation (they are both plosives with alveolar articulation) so the only difference between the two is that T is voiceless (vocal chords idle) whereas D is voiced, that is, we use the vocal chords when saying it. So basically, whenever I try to pronounce D without employing the vocal chords, I end up with T (the same applies to K and G). I spent lots of hours trying to differentiate between T and silent D (+ K and silent G) but I hear no difference, at all. I have no problem using softer T, but D? Never. Guys, I'm sure I'm missing something here. Please help.

[@tadejerzen5198]

Hallo,y missed samples Witherspoon tongue without recorder

[@marcelofrmo]

As a self-taught, I used to call portato “standard”.

[@hmmaname174]

Team Recorder? Sounds like a Pokemon villain. I like it. Good luck with defeating Team Concert Flute!

[@hyojoon_oo8693]

1:30

[@tunakoseoglu23]

please play game of thrones or harry poter music

[@tadejerzen5198]

Correction,y missed samples with tongue without recorder, significated,thanks

[@kmatt5059]

혹시 저희 음악쌤 아시나요

[@jstbeats5685]

Oh hi white raddish hitten guy! I know your music teacher! BTS bring me here 😉😆😆

[@i2harry]

Is it wrong I play the notes only with breath? Edit: can’t believe I said something similar 5years ago

[@jackperez314]

👁❤️👉🎥 👁🤔👉😎🎼

[@judygambel2801]

Whats exercice dont you mean PRACTICE

[@harrypetersen4174]

There' s always room for Improvements. Hi my musical, spiritual and ACTIVE friends. It' s good to be active, but the "ouderDOM" maak di vingers toe-ge-wap... Lazy. Birthday greetings 2 all. Myself included! Eish! " ouderdom" word 56, but feels like 65... Oupa!

[@richardbhagan8949]

You say Portato... I say Portato

[@jeffamos9854]

I have a penny whistle but am too embarrassed for anyone to know that I play it

[@redomisia]

Who else randomly started saying KKKKK GGGGG? 😁

[@svenachstetter9822]

"R"?! My toung doesn't even touch the teeth.

[@Team_Recorder]

It’s the European ‘R’ - this was hard to learn with my British accent!

[@eugenmalatov5470]

Is it just me or do high tones played legato just sound aweful like you are an arabic snake conjurer?