Tongue Split + Tuba?
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Tuesday February 3rd, 2009 @ 3:06 PM
Filed under: Surgical
Hey, I would love to get my tongue split for many reasons. I am no stranger to modification, and I would love to have one. Here is the kicker: I am currently a music student in Ohio, and I have scholarships for my tuba playing. Has anyone EVER heard of brass players with split tongues? It would either make me unable to play (not an option right now), or ungodly good. If you have EVER heard of this, please let me know. I have never been able to find a brass player with a tongue split to ask them about it. Maybe this is not an option for me during undergrad, but I don’t want to try it until I find atleast ONE person who has attempted it. Thanks so much! - Raskin666
I am just replying in hopes someone will see this and can answer for you as I am rather curious myself.
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9 Responses to “Tongue Split + Tuba?”
I have heard of saxophone players playing with split tongues. They just use the better side of their tongue for tonguing. but it’s more difficult…
Clara on February 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 pmI have a split tongue and cannot play a reed instrument anymore(I played bassoon, alto and tenor sax). I think it would be alright for a brass player because you don’t use the tip of your tongue against the mouthpiece. It might trip you up a bit during double tonguing though, I don’t know how that works with brass instruments…
Cucuy on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pmI would imagine it would adversely affect your ability to perform.
Conversely…
I would also guess that your instructors would super pleased if you turned out to be the most insane tuba player ever (16th and 32nd notes by alternating your tongue flaps? Sick!!!)
If you split your tongue tho, the heal time may take you out of playing for a substantial period of time, nevermind relearning your instrument with a new tongue, and the fatigue that can set in with musicians who hit the bench for a while and try to jump back in full bore.
I would wait til you make the most out of your educational experience with the gifts that you have intact before you go enhancing (or destroying) that opportunity.
Finish School!
DS3M on February 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pmI can’t say for sure about tongue splitting, but usually any modification of the mouth area (lip ring, tongue stud, braces, etc.) will cause you to have to modify the way you play a brass instrument at least somewhat, and it will take awhile to become acclimated to it. I’m a trombone player myself and I have a vertical labret, so all I really have to do is take it out whenever I play, but obviously that’s not possible with a split tongue. I would be somewhat concerned about your ability to tongue notes - that is, if a split tongue could create the same effect of stopping the air. And it goes without saying that you might not even be able to play at all while it’s healing, so it would be a good idea to get it say, over spring break. But I definitely think talking to a brass player with that exact modification is a must before going through with it, especially if the tuba is your livelihood.
Kate on February 4th, 2009 at 6:29 pmI play the trumpet in our school’s jazz band I’ve had a split tongue for about three months.
katy on February 4th, 2009 at 8:02 pmBut it was shitty at first, my tongue felt really weak after a practice for some reason and it was sometimes really frustrating not being able to control my tongue yet. Though I don’t know how professional you are, so think of the worst case scenario and if you couldn’t live with that then why risk it, you know?
katy on February 5th, 2009 at 4:25 pmkaty, have you noticed any particular difference?
Raskin666 on February 7th, 2009 at 1:32 amIf I were in your shoes I would ask myself “will I be ok with it if my tongue split makes me unable to play tuba anymore, even permanently?” If the answer is no, then it’s not worth the risk. I was a music major in college and even taking a few weeks off for my wisdom teeth set me back quite a bit - I can’t imagine a tongue split for a wind or brass player.
If you’re not a career musician, but do need to keep the scholarships, why not just wait until after college?
Sarah on February 15th, 2009 at 11:58 pmI would imagine that you would need to train your tongue to work together (without leaks) for tonguing notes. Not that you’ll do much triple-tonguing on a low-brass instrument. Otherwise, you could do a shallow split, and the tongue would still cut off the air when placed against the roof of the mouth.
MyOrgan on August 31st, 2009 at 12:12 amLeave a Comment