Re: [Harp-L] Tongue Shimmer

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some people think of a trill as being similar to a shimmer. And it is. And as far as I remember from trumpet back in the 60s, it is usually associated with at least 2 notes a half or full step apart. Actually that is a simplistic definition. A trill can actually be only 1 note (per SE). Imagine vibrating the tongue against the roof of the mouth (like when we were children playing) in a sort of burp gun or sub machine gun fashion. 

While you are only really using one note, the modulation between the burps IS, in reality, a dropped tone. Now it may not be a full half tone, but it IS a different tone. Maybe only a quarter tone, but it IS a different tone. And while we don't hear a definitive difference, mostly because of the speed, IF one were to slow that down, we DO hear a different tone. Maybe a micro tone would be a good definition. Maybe as much as 67 cents, or as little as 19 cents. But it is there. 

The method you mention whereas 3 or more holes are covered as you manipulate your technique is more akin to something called a 'rake'. You are basically raking your tongue in a wider sweep almost as if you were raking leaves away from the mouthpiece holes. AND like the tines of the rake, your breath is catching IN the holes in a repetitive fashion therefore sounding the notes just as if your tines were scraping grass or leaves from your work area. Hope this helps.

smo-joe

On May 4, 2012, at 7:51 AM, Daniel McKernan wrote:

> I wanted to thank everyone for the info on tongue shimmers.  When I went
> back and practiced it again I noticed that it is indeed more like 3 or 4
> holes that I'm covering with my mouth and moving the tongue side to side
> rapidly.  I had originally thought it was just 2 holes.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/desertratdan