The Best Way to Tongue Faster - “Insider Sax Stuff”

Summary

In this 'Insider Sacks' episode, Derek shares his effective method for increasing tonguing speed on wind instruments. He emphasizes the importance of training the tongue like a muscle, using a metronome for gradual and restful practice. Derek suggests starting with fewer tongues and increasing the count with ample rest, comparing it to weight lifting for endurance. He demonstrates two approaches to practice, one with incremental speed increases and the other with a fixed speed and increasing tongue repetitions. He assures that with consistent practice, anyone can significantly improve their tonguing speed.

Takeaways

• 🎷 Derek shares his journey from struggling with tonguing in high school to mastering advanced techniques like triple tonguing.
• 🚀 The key to increasing tonguing speed is training the tongue like a muscle, focusing on endurance and gradual improvement.
• 🎶 Using a metronome is beneficial, but it should be used in a way that doesn't exhaust the tongue, allowing for proper rest and recovery.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The analogy of weight lifting is used to illustrate the importance of reps and rest in building muscle strength, which applies to tongue training as well.
• 🔢 Derek suggests starting with a manageable tempo and gradually increasing the number of tonguing repetitions with ample rest in between.
• 🎵 Emphasizes the importance of precision in rhythm and subdivision, especially when practicing at a slow pace.
• 📈 Advocates for a slow and steady approach to increasing speed, similar to how one would increase weight in a gym workout.
• 🔄 Describes a method of practicing tonguing by starting at a fast tempo, then gradually increasing the number of tonguing repetitions and rest periods.
• 📉 Derek explains an alternative practice method where you start at a slower tempo and increase the speed while maintaining a manageable number of tonguing repetitions.
• 💪 Encourages patience and consistency in practice, highlighting that improvement in tonguing speed is a gradual process that takes time and dedication.
• 🌟 Ends with a teaser for future episodes where Derek will discuss more advanced techniques like double and triple tonguing.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is how to effectively increase the speed of your tonguing, which is applicable to any instrument that requires faster articulation.

What was the speaker's initial struggle with tonguing in high school?

The speaker initially struggled with tonguing an etude at 100 beats per minute in sixteenth notes on the saxophone, which led to tears and thoughts of quitting.

Why does the speaker believe most people are training their tongues inefficiently?

The speaker believes most people are training their tongues inefficiently because they use a metronome at a fast tempo and try to do a long string of notes until their tongue wears out, rather than training it like a muscle with rest and gradual increase in intensity.

What is the analogy the speaker uses to describe the proper way to train the tongue?

The speaker uses the analogy of weight training or sprint training to describe the proper way to train the tongue, emphasizing the importance of rest and gradual increase in intensity.

How does the speaker suggest training the tongue for endurance?

The speaker suggests training the tongue for endurance by starting with very few tongues and gradually increasing the amount with lots of rest in between, similar to how one would train for endurance in physical activities.

What is the speaker's approach to practicing tonguing with a metronome?

The speaker's approach involves starting at a manageable speed with a metronome, doing a few repetitions of tonguing, and then gradually increasing the speed and the number of repetitions as the tongue gets stronger.

Why is it important to rest between tonguing repetitions according to the speaker?

It is important to rest between tonguing repetitions to prevent the tongue from getting tired, which would slow down the tonguing speed and hinder progress.

What is the speaker's advice on how to increase the speed of tonguing over time?

The speaker advises to increase the speed of tonguing gradually, in small increments, and to practice consistently over weeks, months, and years to become a master at it.

What are the two approaches the speaker discusses for practicing tonguing?

The two approaches discussed are: 1) Gradually increasing the number of tonguing repetitions and the speed over time, and 2) Practicing at a constant speed and increasing the number of repetitions until the maximum is reached, then starting over at a higher speed.

What is the speaker's perspective on the potential limit of tonguing speed?

The speaker believes that with the right training and practice, there is no limit to how fast one can tongue, suggesting that the sky's the limit.