- - Please visit: Legacy Horn Experience - -
A topic I think about every year when I hear college auditions is that of the “missing articulations.” Often it is a function of what things your teachers emphasized and what you are able to do.
To be more specific, the missing articulations are typically either the very short or the very long articulations. Or — maybe both! Typically good students can do at least one of these.
The reasons they are missing are varied. Some teachers do not seem to have the ability to teach articulations. My guess is that their lessons are more like coaching. While maybe inspirational and helpful, it does not hide from me that your teacher let you down a bit in relation to these skills.
Then again, some students do not understand why their teachers are so hard-core about learning these very short and very long articulations. If they are trying to teach these to you it is because you are not doing them well enough. I do realize that there may be issues specific to individuals (not everyone tongues the same way, has the same physiology in their mouth, or can achieve exactly the same results).
T
he very short articulations I think are more recognized as an essential skill by teachers who have lots of orchestral experience, especially in good halls. In a good hall, if you do not play things crisp enough, it can all sound muddy. Kopprasch played very short is the traditional method to learn this articulation type.
The very long articulations to my mind have more to do with solo playing, especially things like the runs in the first movements of Mozart concertos. These should not sound like Kopprasch! You have to learn to use the tongue and the air very lightly, to imitate the sound a string player makes in the comparable orchestral tutti sections of these concertos. Do not use too much air!
The point of application being, the impressive player can do both! Very short and very long articulations are both essential skills, and if you are getting feedback that either or both could be better, take it seriously, fixing this skill could be the key to reaching the next level as a player.
