Flute articulationFlute articulation is simply how you start each note, whether or not it started with a tongued syllable. Without articulation, you are simply blowing across the flute with a "hah" sound. Many different syllables can be used to start a flute sound. Those syllables can be played forcefully or lightly, depending on the musical context. Forceful flute articulations are achieve through the use of T syllables, such as ta and tee. These are the most ones for articulating (tonguing) notes. A softer articulation is achieved with D syllables - dah and doo. There are many variations, of course.
I like to compare articulation with emphasis on a particular word in a sentence. The meaning of the following sentence changes when you accent a different word... I'm going home now. So the use of a strong "tee" articulation versus simply slurring over the note creates two different musical points.
In single tonguing, outlined above, the tongue hits the back of the top teeth for each note. In double tonguing, we make use of the pulling back motion of the tongue to articulate the syllable "ka" or "ga," thus allowing the flutist to speak the notes twice as fast. ta-ka ta-ka ta-ka, etc. In triple tonguing, you play ta-ka-ta, ta-ka-ta. The drawback in double tonguing is that the ta or da syllable is much stronger because it is produced at the front of the oral cavity instead of at the back of the throat. To strengthen the weak syllable, practice playing the "ka" or "ga" syllables by themselves--ga ga ga ga, etc. It's awkward, but with consistent practice your double and triple tonguing can be nearly imperceptible from single tonguing.
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