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So I've asked a few private lessons teachers about this and have gotten conflicted advice about this. It has to do with pieces that have long legato phrase marks like the Bordogoni vocalises. I've had lessons teachers tell me to play those phrases with a legato "doo, dah, or loo" tongue. I've also had teachers tell me to play them slurred and I've even been told that it was up to me which way I did it. The later, where it's my choice, is what I've always gone by ( I ususally slur but some connected tonguing). And I just wanted to know what everyone else on here thought of that.

dsfinley wrote:So I've asked a few private lessons teachers about this and have gotten conflicted advice about this. It has to do with pieces that have long legato phrase marks like the Bordogoni vocalises. I've had lessons teachers tell me to play those phrases with a legato "doo, dah, or loo" tongue. I've also had teachers tell me to play them slurred and I've even been told that it was up to me which way I did it. The later, where it's my choice, is what I've always gone by ( I ususally slur but some connected tonguing). And I just wanted to know what everyone else on here thought of that.

Those markings in Bordogni are phrase marks. Play them in all sorts of ways (articulations, dynamics, etc.) to work on different aspects of your playing. While slurring everything is a great way to work on moving air, you're not limited to it. Be creative!

Slur where maked and use lots of air. Large amounts of air are necessary to make the slur work. As I tell my students, I am running a special today on air. Its free, so, use lots.

YES!
Either way or any other way you can think of.

A "phrase" is just a musical statement, a sentence without words. ( Though you may have a set of words in your mind, or to which the phrase is an accompaniment.)

Get used to taking the same sequence of notes to make different statements. Something played very legato, slurred can say one thing and say quite another played staccoto.
Change the tempo. What can be a dirge played one way can be a fanfare when played another way. Same notes - different statements.

A mere descending major scale can be just that or "Joy to the World".

Here's the thing: What does the word "Vocalise" mean?

Once you figure that out, remember what instrument they were originally written for.

Are you doing them on that instrument? If no, make the best music you can, regardless of articulations. Use all sorts of combinations (as mentioned above) and use them to fullest advantage.