From: James Hanson Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 22:34:36 -0500 Subject: bending puckering blocking
my $0.02 as a long time puckerer who has recently begun more tongue blocking.
As remarked earlier, since the tongue can get involved in a pucker bend, it appears to be easier (at least to us long time pucker players!). I think puckering therefore also requires more attention to pitch, because it is also easier to "pre bend" all your notes and play just a little bit flat all the time (driving all of those perfect pitch people crazy... heh, heh, heh...)
Bending tongue blocked notes is certainly possible, and in my case is done with the throat and the side of the tongue. It is the same principle - changing the resonant cavity to alter pitch - but some different mouth and throat parts are being used to do it. I suspect that if you start out tongue blocking, you learn it at a time when your standards are lower as a beginner, so it doesn't seem as hard as it does if you already have lots of ability at puckered bends.
This started with someone who claimed they couldn't pucker. I have a hard time believing that is possible - the facial muscles required to pucker may be weak, but surely you've got them! I'm completely unable to roll my tongue, but I can do John Thaden's U-blocking with a little effort.
