Whenever I tongue, my notes always come out staccato, no matter what. I`ve tried using the syllable "doo" or "dah", and my clarinet teacher told me to put more mouthpiece in my mouth but all I seem to be accomplishing is making lots of squeaks. I have to try out for All-State band in a few months and I really need to break this habit ASAP or else I`m in a lot of trouble for the auditions. It seems to get worse when I`m tonguing in the upper register. If I try hard enough I can tongue legato in the lower register, such as the chalemeu and throat tones, but never above those. My clarinet teacher says if I use more air it will get better. I have but it doesn`t seem to be getting any better. Any advice?

advice only use the `tea` sylable when tounging

hmmm... I`m not really sure what advice to give you, I`ve been playing so long that I really don`t have to think about what I`m doing much anymore. I never recall trying to make anysyllable sounds, just press the tongue to it and release.

I agree with your teacher, use mroe air. Make sure you keep the air flowing through it after you tongue it... otherwise it will sound choppy

hey i have the same problem... today my teacher said in sectionals that i have to *reteach* myself in tonguing because im tonguing wrong...and now i have to tongue the way where i touch my reed when i tongue...i usually use my arch....im first chair in the top band..i think i know what im doing... but when i do it the *new* way it sux...ad i cant make it any better...tell me if you tongue the arch way too...sorry if im confusing u

hey this is ace again... yeah i fixed my tonguing habits... it easy.. just use the VERY TIP of the reed and u got the game... im still first chair in the top band :D... people who r REALLY GOOD... gimme some tips on other stuff

my band instructor tells us to keep the air flowing and use stomach support and it worked for me.

Yeah it`s sorta working now.. I can actually do it sometimes now! Sometimes... hehe. Well like sometimes when I`m REALLY trying to legato tongue, my tongue misses the reed... yea yea I`m not very coordinated. But thanks for everyone`s advice and I`ll try to make it a permanent skill.

-Nao

Actually, I had a problem with a form of tongueing. It is best known as anchor tongueing: that is when you tuck your tougue behind your lip and teeth and use the middle of your toungue. It works for VERY FEW PEOPLE.
For me, it worked a little while...but then it got scary. I am the principal clarinetist in the orchestra at my college here in Nashville. There were obstacles I had to perform...so I had to correct it. It wasn`t working fast enough through those staccato in Shostakovich`s Piano Concerto no. 2.
I tried everything to fix this problem. My tougue went from curved up to curve down. IT was the most frustrating thing ever. YOu just have to experiment. Try tonguing slowly and in accord with a metronome. That`s what I did. I dedicated thirty minutes a day to experimenting with my tongue and i finally fixed it. Try drawing what your tongue experiments look like. (Eventhough we know the correct way....keep record of what you`ve tried i guarantee a lightbulb will come on). Draw a mark on your reed (or even your tongue). THE BEST WAY TO KNOW IF YOU ARE TONGUEING RIGHT IS: hiss like a cat and your tongue will be as arched like it is supposed to. So just do your best and patience and persistance helps. KEEP PLAYING. and good luck!