There is a gene for flutter-tonguing as well. Linguistically termed an "alveolar flap" or an "alveolar trill", only about half the people I've met can do it, whether they are fellow brass players or have been in any of the many Spanish-language classes I have taken.
As for how often flutter tonguing comes up, I know its in Strauss' Don Quixote, and I've seen it in a band piece or two. I can't see those rare instances being enough of a reason to discourage this student, especially since he would be in good company if the only effect was an inability to flutter-tongue. I would say that, unless he can't tongue normally, there should be no problems with him playing horn. However, this does bring up the question: given the linguistic name for the motion, "Alveolar trill," will the canon of horn pedagogy have to be amended to include a third type of trill beyond lip trills and valve trills? Ben --- On Tue, 9/30/08, Robert Dickow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Years back I worked with a player in the San Francisco area > who could not flutter, hornistically or linguistically. No > big problem for him, so it seemed. However, I am not sure > that this inability is due to a genetic or congenital > condition. I do know, on the other hand, that there is a > known gene that controls the ability to roll the tongue up > into a tube shape. Quite a few people can not do that at > all, as the appropriate nerves or muscles are simply not > there, not viable, or something. But for fluttering, I > personally think it is simply a matter of getting the knack > of how that is done. Like ear-wiggling, it may be hard to > teach one how to find the muscles to make it work. > > Bob Dickow > Lionel Hampton School of Music > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Susan Thompson > Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 1:14 PM > To: The Horn List > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Tongue Tied > > I haven't had experience with a horn student with this > problem, but I have known people with this condition who had > problems in some languages (such as Spanish) because they > can't do a rolled "R". > > For horn playing, this might mean they couldn't do a > flutter tongue (but how often do we have to do a flutter > tongue, anyway?). > > Hope that helps, > > Susan Thompson > > -----Original Message----- > >From: Dawn McCandless > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Sep 30, 2008 1:08 PM > >To: horn@music.memphis.edu > >Subject: [Hornlist] Tongue Tied > > > >Have no idea what the medical term is for it now. A > young person wants to learn to play the horn. He has that > extra skin on the bottom of his tongue. The doctors left it > there since it wasn't affecting his speech. He can touch > the back of his teeth and can reach his tongue at least to > his lower lip. > >Has anybody experienced this either personally or with > a student? Will it affect his playing or slow down how fast > he can tongue rapid passages? Anygood advice will be > helpful. Hisparentsdon't want tolet him get too excited > about taking up the hornif it is something that will be > impossiblefor him.Yet, we don't want to totally > discourage him if he will be able to play regardless of > theproblem. > > > >Thank You. > >DMM _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
