Re: [Harp-L] Tongue blocking and tone

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm a Gwen Foster devotee. The underside of my tongue is the way I, and other Foster-ites I've spoken to, do it this way.
RD

>>> Deb Wind <debseifriedwind@xxxxxxxxx> 9/09/2010 2:39 >>>
I was under the impression that the ability to U-block is a genetic factor.
Some people possess the gene to be able to curl the tongue (aka U-block),
while others lack the gene, and thus, cannot U-block no matter how hard they
try.  Kind of like having "unattached" vs. "attached" earlobes, or having a
Widow's Peak or not having a Widow's peak... ya either have it or you
don't....



> With tongue block the key ingredient is getting the tongue out of the way,
> off to the side, to allow a small hole in the left or right corner of the
> mouth. It is not a precise movement. It's the side of the tongue that
> blocks
> the comb. Concentrating on getting that little hole in the corner of the
> mouth is the important thing. The tongue is just casually resting on the
> comb.
>

So the tongue IS ON the comb!?  Is it the tip or the flat of the tongue? Or
both??  I learned to play a couple years ago using the pucker method, and I
can play single notes well.  However, I want to be able to progress, to be
able to play chords, and split intervals, and so much more, but I can't do
that with the pucker method (*I* can't, that's not to say someone of far
more skill level CAN...) So I am trying to learn to TB. It just seems so...
"un-natural"....

So, is the tip of the tongue anchored behind the lower incisors and the flat
of the tongue is actually ON the comb? Or is the tip *and* flat of the
tongue ON the comb? (albeit moved over to the side)

... read an article about a gentleman several weeks ago that ended with the
statement that it took the gentleman EIGHT YEARS to learn a single piece of
music... EIGHT YEARS, MAN!!
I shall not become frustrated after only a few weeks!
Ishallnotbecomefrustrated, ishallnotbecomefrustrated...

Thanks for the advise on TBing. It really is appreciated by this newby
harpist.

Deb
EarthDogHarpin