Some initial findings regarding language influence on playing brass instruments
This paper presents some initial findings regarding the influence of First Language on playing brass instruments. Using ultra- sound imaging of the tongue, vowel production and sustained trombone notes were compared for a New Zealand English and a Tongan speaker. It is suggested that, during trombone play- ing, the tongue shapes used by the Tongan participant pattern with the back vowel /o/ while those used by the New Zealand English player pattern with the centralized KIT vowel (/9/) and schwa (/@/). It is argued that these findings provide preliminary evidence of First Language influence on brass playing.
