Re: [Harp-L] U blocking

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am not certain how to label what I do. I tongue block, but except at 
the extremes of the instrument, I do not block to the side as in 
classical tongue blocking. The air comes down the center of my tongue. 
But I do not form a U with my tongue to do this. Quite the contrary, the 
parts of my tongue lying on either side of the center line are relaxed 
so as to block holes, allowing only the middle note at the center of my 
tongue to play.

I find this technique facilitates going to splits, since I don't have to 
move my tongue to do it. I also find that this approach allows me to to 
rapid tonguing while maintaining my embouchure. Many people switch to 
pucker embouchure in order to do rapid tonguing.

-LM