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/didoslament%40earthlink.net _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/dickow%40uidaho.edu _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
