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Some initial findings regarding first language influence on playing brass instruments

This paper presents some initial findings regarding the influence of First Language on playing brass instruments. Using ultrasound 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 playing, 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.