Trumpet Tongue Position

Trumpet Tongue Position
Our trumpet friend on this channel requested a few different videos and here is our first one in fulfilling those requests. Tongue Position! What should the tongue be doing inside the mouth while you play?
Eddie Lewis' Websites:
www.EddieLewis.com
eltigredo.com/blog

[@jvitor_dutra]

I don't really have conditions to pay for trumpet teachers, so i have to trust on all the information that i can get from experienced people like you. I've been kind of frustraded since the tongue positioning subject has come to my mind, and i began to think that i was doing it wrong my entire life and changing it would affect my whole embochure. Now i understand that there is not an actual and single way of tongue positioning, and that i should study on how the way i do it affect my playing. You actually changed my mind, and now i don't think about it as a nightmare, but something that i should always focus during my practice sessions. Thank you!

[@eltigredo]

Good. I'm glad this video is helping. In the lessons, when I correct my student's articulation, I always tell them "do NOT forget how to do what you are doing now. You will need that again later". It's not that they were tonguing "wrong". It was just inappropriate for the musical context. Sounds like you just had a similar experience.

[@Blesstheworld1004]

Love the way you explained the tonguing.

[@eltigredo]

Good. Thank you.

[@elsonharewood7933]

Very useful and informative session. I now realize why tone can vary especially when doing long tones. Since one frequent exercise I practice is volume changes on long notes this was helpful.

[@eltigredo]

Good! I'm glad the video was helpful with your trumpet playing.

[@tonysalvatore2608]

Hi Eddie Thanks for your prompt reply to my question about tongue position. I've had just two teachers, one of whom never mentioned tongue position, and the other who had an ever evolving position. At the end it was to be anchored to inside of top of lower lip. Also with an evolving series of mouthpieces. I must say they all worked to some degree. But your discussion of different actions of tongue depending on style is a real eye opener. I will keep watching this video..a wealth of information. Thank-You

[@eltigredo]

I'm glad you are getting something out of it. I enjoyed making it. Ha! I was very sleepy when I recorded the video and I cut out a bunch of spots where I actually forgot what I was talking about. It was a very busy week this past week.

[@user-qb3mh8ze4j]

Really helpful! Thank you ❤

[@eltigredo]

You're welcome.

[@siegfriedwifling907]

Great great Video and Message..

[@eltigredo]

Thank you!

[@gregellis6353]

Best explanation of tongue position that I have found! Thank you.

[@eltigredo]

You're welcome. I'm glad you like it.

[@datboiii9739]

Thank you eddie

[@eltigredo]

You're welcome!

[@jimwilt4944]

Hey Eddie. I just stumbled on this. Preach! This is great advice. Best, Jim

[@eltigredo]

It's great to hear from you! I'm so glad you like the video. Thank you for your encouraging words.

[@triboz-rio1720]

Thanks, Eddie, for very valuable and flexible information that embraces the stylistic diversity that exists in our musical world and the demands that we confront, particularly in the area of transcultural/global variants and respective technical and conceptual demands. You share this information so gracefully given the investment that you have made in achieving this depth of knowledge flexibility. There are many truths - absolutes... well that's another story!

[@eltigredo]

I'm glad you appreciate the flexibility aspect of what I'm discussing in this video. It sounds like you know what I'm saying and can relate. Thanks for the comment!

[@mariasudholt1527]

Hello Eddie, Thank you for the helpful video. You explained the position of the tongue very well, I learned a lot. Many greetings from Germany Maria

[@eltigredo]

Hello Maria, Thank you for your comment. I apologize for taking so long to respond. I really thought I had replied to this two weeks ago.

[@bennetaccouche5279]

Thanks for that

[@eltigredo]

You’re welcome!

[@lenzotrumpet]

Hello Eddie hope you are well. It's an interesting coincidence I was just the other day reading about anchor tonguing and K-tongue and today I see you talking about tonguing ! Also in the article about tonguing it mentioned the tongue -arch .Yes this is interesting and important .I would love more video's on tonguing.Thank you ! Anthony

[@eltigredo]

Thanks for the feedback Anthony. Yeah, the anchor tongue thing is important if you want to have the appropriate sound in certain situations. I do NOT approve of using it as a way to "get high notes". It is about the sound, not about the range. You don't need to have your tongue that high in your mouth to play in the upper register. But depending on your equipment, some people absolutely need to have it that high to get the appropriate sound for some style of trumpet playing.

[@lenzotrumpet]

@@eltigredo Interesting I didn't know that .I always thought anchor tongue was for higher notes ....but yes you learn something new everyday especially with trumpet ..but then for higher notes if not raising the tongue you mean then smaller aperture I am guessing..thank you Eddie. .

[@eltigredo]

It's true that a higher tongue arch can be part of playing higher notes (depends on HOW you play). The problem with the anchor tongue is that it is so extreme. You don't NEED that high of an arch to play high....not until you get up into the double C area. And even then, the anchor tongue isn't necessary because it is so extreme. I hope that makes sense.

[@lenzotrumpet]

Yes Eddie thank you

[@edwinmichaeloldham898]

Hi Eddie, When I articulate the "K" or "Ga", with the back of my tongue, in Double Tongueing, I am unable to sound a note as it causes my lips to attain a position that is not conducive to blowing this note. What am I doing wrong.? Please assist. Thanks Edwin.

[@eltigredo]

Hello Edwin, I would love to help you with this, but I don't have enough information. By what mechanism is the tongue causing the lips to change position? What I can tell you is that, before I teach my students how to double tongue, I have them say the word "taco" many times fast. Then I have them say toco instead of taco. Toco, toco, toco, toco... etc. Saying this should give you a better idea of what should be happening in your mouth while you double tongue. Is that anywhere close to what you are trying to do?

[@zapapelttari8226]

Thank you, maybe I finally start to play my trumpet, which I got from my friend's father almost twenty years ago..🙄

[@eltigredo]

Sounds good!

[@siegfriedwifling907]

Great Statement …so true..this can also be developed and supported by listen to different styles of world of music ..we should😅

[@eltigredo]

That’s right. I often tell my students that listening is more important than practicing.

[@siegfriedwifling907]

And…listening to music is aktiv practicing 😊

[@JuanHernandez-fo7fi]

Please, define "Listening"

[@eltigredo]

I have an entire series of videos that talk about listening, and I will put a link to that play-list at the bottom of this message. But, in short, when I talk about listening in the context of practicing, I am talking about hearing trumpet players who are already successful at the kind of music you would like to perform. This can be videos, mp3s, attending live performances, and things like that. Here's the link to the play-list: kzbin.info/aero/PLkTz_STFBZcFnyGeEtN1CrBptIF2Gt3Rg

[@artisfine]

Like your Videos but....there are people who do not move their tounge at all....? Their playing just between an octave or what?😅

[@eltigredo]

Yes, not everyone plays trumpet the same way and there are people who don’t believe in moving the tongue at all. And no, they do not have limited range because of it. If you’d like to understand this better, then I recommend a book called Bob Findly on Trumpet. He talks about balances in a way that makes it all make sense.

[@artisfine]

@@eltigredo thanks for the tip, I will look for the book right away ! 🙂