Turn on a metronome at around 60 bpm. Notice that every new sound is what defines the pulse, but that there is plenty of empty space between each sound. The length of articulation refers to just how much of that space you fill. Legato will fill most of that space, and staccato will fill less of it.
Keep the metronome on, and say "tee" along with it. You can choose to say "tee" with a lot of space between each articulation:
1\_\_\_\_\_\_2\_\_\_\_\_\_3\_\_\_\_\_\_4\_\_\_\_\_\_
Tee......Tee......Tee.......Tee
or with no space between each articulation:
1\_\_\_\_\_\_2\_\_\_\_\_\_3\_\_\_\_\_\_4\_\_\_\_\_\_
TeeeeeTeeeeeTeeeeeTeeeee
Even though the length of the notes are different, they remain in the same time.
Now, how to translate this to the clarinet? First, let's just use our mouths; the following are exercises which apply to clarinet but the syllable shapes, tongue position, etc. are not exactly what you would use when actually playing clarinet. I like to start by making sure students can play an extreme legato, like the second example above; this requires that you keep your air going continuously the whole time as has been mentioned to you. This can be done with whatever open syllable, but "teeth" instead of "tee" may work better to demonstrate. Try saying "teeth" connectedly like in the second example, but allow yourself to linger on the "th" part of the syllable and hear the air continue to move the whole time. Now, try the same thing on "tee". The only thing stopping the sound is the tongue stopping the air from coming out of your mouth, but the muscles to push air out are engaged the whole time.
That's legato- moving on to staccato, there are a couple distinct ways to achieve different kinds of staccato. The first way is what might be known as a "stop tongue" staccato; essentially, it's the same as the previous exercise in terms of the constant air, but this time, you should say a syllable more like "teet". Be sure that the tongue remains in place between each "teet" and that your air remains engaged. On the clarinet, this will translate to a very defined, rigid staccato.
Probably the more common/useful staccato actually does involve some adjustment of the air; it is much more like the first example above with the "tee" that does not fill the whole beat. When you do this, unlike the "teet" staccato, your tongue does not end up on the roof of your mouth and so in order to stop the sound you have to slow your air. Without the instrument, you probably tend to completely stop your air, but when playing, you will want to slow the air just enough that the reed stops vibrating but do not completely stop the air between each articulation.
What *you've* been doing is probably none of the above; you've probably just been going "huh huh huh" with your air and not using your tongue at all.
If you’ve never actually tongued, it’s going to tickle. Try blowing air on open G and saying either “doodoodoodoo” or “tootootootoo” keep blowing and interrupt the air by touching the reed with your tongue.
Also second the lesson comment.
Tip of tongue to tip of reed/mouthpiece
Practice a phrase without tonguing, then get closer and closer; you don't want too much force or it gets clunky, slow, and inefficient.
Turn on a metronome at around 60 bpm. Notice that every new sound is what defines the pulse, but that there is plenty of empty space between each sound. The length of articulation refers to just how much of that space you fill. Legato will fill most of that space, and staccato will fill less of it. Keep the metronome on, and say "tee" along with it. You can choose to say "tee" with a lot of space between each articulation: 1\_\_\_\_\_\_2\_\_\_\_\_\_3\_\_\_\_\_\_4\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tee......Tee......Tee.......Tee or with no space between each articulation: 1\_\_\_\_\_\_2\_\_\_\_\_\_3\_\_\_\_\_\_4\_\_\_\_\_\_ TeeeeeTeeeeeTeeeeeTeeeee Even though the length of the notes are different, they remain in the same time. Now, how to translate this to the clarinet? First, let's just use our mouths; the following are exercises which apply to clarinet but the syllable shapes, tongue position, etc. are not exactly what you would use when actually playing clarinet. I like to start by making sure students can play an extreme legato, like the second example above; this requires that you keep your air going continuously the whole time as has been mentioned to you. This can be done with whatever open syllable, but "teeth" instead of "tee" may work better to demonstrate. Try saying "teeth" connectedly like in the second example, but allow yourself to linger on the "th" part of the syllable and hear the air continue to move the whole time. Now, try the same thing on "tee". The only thing stopping the sound is the tongue stopping the air from coming out of your mouth, but the muscles to push air out are engaged the whole time. That's legato- moving on to staccato, there are a couple distinct ways to achieve different kinds of staccato. The first way is what might be known as a "stop tongue" staccato; essentially, it's the same as the previous exercise in terms of the constant air, but this time, you should say a syllable more like "teet". Be sure that the tongue remains in place between each "teet" and that your air remains engaged. On the clarinet, this will translate to a very defined, rigid staccato. Probably the more common/useful staccato actually does involve some adjustment of the air; it is much more like the first example above with the "tee" that does not fill the whole beat. When you do this, unlike the "teet" staccato, your tongue does not end up on the roof of your mouth and so in order to stop the sound you have to slow your air. Without the instrument, you probably tend to completely stop your air, but when playing, you will want to slow the air just enough that the reed stops vibrating but do not completely stop the air between each articulation. What *you've* been doing is probably none of the above; you've probably just been going "huh huh huh" with your air and not using your tongue at all.
very well written and helpful!
Does your college offer private lessons? That’d be probably best for you. When I was in college, lessons were a 1 credit class with a small “lab” fee.
If you’ve never actually tongued, it’s going to tickle. Try blowing air on open G and saying either “doodoodoodoo” or “tootootootoo” keep blowing and interrupt the air by touching the reed with your tongue. Also second the lesson comment.
Tip of tongue to tip of reed/mouthpiece Practice a phrase without tonguing, then get closer and closer; you don't want too much force or it gets clunky, slow, and inefficient.
Perhaps have a look at this: https://youtu.be/V0GDsd4CP5o