- Syllables refer to the position and movement of the tongue, and it is especially important to be aware of the back of the tongue
- By using whistling and vowels ('oh,' 'ah,' 'ee'), you can experience changes in tongue position
- When the tongue position rises, the airway narrows and air speed increases, producing higher notes
- Rather than closing the throat, control air speed by raising and lowering the back of the tongue
- Master syllables through a step-by-step process: singing, practicing on the mouthpiece, and connecting it all on the instrument
What Are Syllables: The Key to Playing Freely Without Force
Today, we will talk about syllables, which can dramatically transform your playing. Personally, I did not know about syllables until high school, but once I started applying them, I was able to play more freely without relying on force. I encourage you all to master syllables and expand your playing range! Syllables refer to the position and movement of the tongue. In particular, being aware of the position of the back of the tongue is crucial. By mastering this technique, you will be able to play freely without relying on lip or body strength.
Experiencing Tongue Position: Using Whistling and Vowels
To understand syllables, it is important to experience the changes in tongue position. Two easy methods are experiencing it through whistling and experiencing it through vowels. If you can whistle, try whistling while paying attention to the inside of your mouth. Can you feel how the tongue position changes between producing low notes and high notes? You should notice that the tongue position is higher when playing high notes. Also, try saying 'oh,' 'ah,' and 'ee' in order. You will notice that the tongue gradually rises, even if only slightly. In particular, you should feel that the tongue rises noticeably when saying 'ee.'
The Relationship Between Tongue Position and Pitch: Controlling Air Speed
When the tongue position rises, the airway narrows, and the air speed from the throat to the mouth increases. This makes higher notes easier to produce. Conversely, when the tongue position lowers, the airway widens and the air speed decreases, making lower notes easier to produce. To understand this principle, imagine a rubber hose used for gardening or car washing. When you pinch the end of the hose with your fingers, the water comes out with much greater force. The same principle applies: when the airway narrows, the air speed increases, and this increased speed causes the pitch to rise.
Bad vs. Good Examples: Force-Dependent Playing vs. Syllable-Based Playing
Let us compare bad examples of not understanding syllables with good examples that utilize them. In the bad example, trying to control pitch by relying on lip and body strength results in tension that prevents free playing. On the other hand, in the good example, being aware of the back tongue position to control air speed allows you to play freely without relying on force.
Matching Notes to Vowels: The Foundation for Practicing Syllables
Since it is difficult to think about detailed tongue positions while playing, let us use vowels to map them to notes in an easy-to-understand way. First, it is important to know which note corresponds to which vowel. The basic correspondences are as follows: Middle C (B-flat) corresponds to 'ah.' Moving up, middle G (F) corresponds to 'eh' (like the letter 'E'). Going up further, the tuning B-flat (tuning C) corresponds to 'ai.' Moving even higher, the upper E corresponds to 'hee,' G corresponds to 'shee,' B-flat corresponds to 'tswee,' and high B-flat corresponds to 'pee.' These syllable assignments are not set in stone — they are meant as a guide. However, by learning and practicing these syllables, as you keep playing and thinking about whether it is 'ah,' 'eh,' or 'ee,' you gradually get used to it, and you truly start to feel as though you are pronouncing them as you play, allowing you to play more flexibly.
Practice Steps
To master syllables, it is important to follow a step-by-step practice approach. By progressing through singing, practicing on the mouthpiece, and connecting it all on the instrument, you will gradually be able to use syllables freely.
Step 1: Try Singing
First, it is important to try singing. Basically, I want you to memorize these vowels for the syllables, and once you have memorized them, start by singing. For example, when playing C-G-C-G-C, sing it as ''ah-eh-ah-eh-ah.'' At this point, always visualize the vowels and syllables in your mind. By singing, you can experience the changes in tongue position and understand which note corresponds to which vowel. It may feel unfamiliar at first, but keep at it patiently.
Step 2: Practice on the Mouthpiece
Next, try doing the same thing on the mouthpiece as you did when singing. At this point, always visualize the vowels and syllables in your mind. In the previous lesson, we covered mouthpiece buzzing, and you should always be conscious of syllables during that as well. By practicing on the mouthpiece, you can focus on tongue position without using the instrument and develop the feeling of controlling air speed. Practicing on the mouthpiece while being conscious of syllables enables more precise control of tongue position.
Step 3: Connect It All on the Instrument
Finally, connect it all by practicing on the instrument. By singing, practicing on the mouthpiece, and then connecting it all on the instrument, you will gradually be able to use syllables freely. At this stage, play the instrument while being conscious of the same syllables you used when singing. For example, when playing C-G-C-G-C, imagine the syllables ''ah-eh-ah-eh-ah'' in your mind while actually producing sounds on the instrument. For various lip slurs — we will discuss lip slurs in the next lesson — always practice while being conscious of syllables. Being aware of syllables will also improve the accuracy of your lip slurs.
- Memorize the vowels: Learn which note corresponds to which vowel. Middle C (B-flat) is 'ah,' middle G (F) is 'eh,' tuning B-flat is 'ai,' and so on.
- Try singing: Using the vowels you have memorized, start by singing. For example, when playing C-G-C-G-C, sing 'ah-eh-ah-eh-ah.' Always visualize the vowels and syllables in your mind.
- Practice on the mouthpiece: Just as you sang, try it on the mouthpiece. At this point, always visualize the vowels and syllables in your mind. Always be conscious of syllables during mouthpiece buzzing as well.
- Connect it all on the instrument: Finally, connect it all by practicing on the instrument. While being conscious of the same syllables you used when singing, actually produce sounds on the instrument. You will gradually be able to use syllables freely.
- Practice consistently: It may feel unfamiliar at first, but keep at it patiently. As you keep playing and thinking about whether it is 'ah,' 'eh,' or 'ee,' you will gradually get used to it, and you truly start to feel as though you are pronouncing them as you play, allowing you to play more flexibly.
Summary: Playing Freely with Syllables
In trumpet playing, by mastering syllables — the position and movement of the tongue — you can play freely without relying on force. Starting with experiencing tongue position through whistling and vowels, you learn to be aware of the back of the tongue and control air speed. Through the step-by-step process of singing, practicing on the mouthpiece, and connecting it all on the instrument, you can master syllables. It may feel unfamiliar at first, but keep at it patiently. As you keep playing and thinking about whether it is 'ah,' 'eh,' or 'ee,' you will gradually get used to it, and you truly start to feel as though you are pronouncing them as you play, allowing you to play more flexibly. By putting this method into practice, your trumpet playing will improve dramatically, and you will be able to play freely without relying on force.
