Klarinet Archive - Posting 000208.txt from 1994/07

From: JLYTTHANS@-----.COM
Subj: Teaching Double Embouchure
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 11:41:14 -0400

Ronald Atienza asked a question about double embouchure for beginners. I
have found, over the years, that about a third of my beginning junior high
clarinetists (and sax players) try to play with a double embouchure, mainly
because they don't like the "feel" of the teeth on the mouthpiece.
Vibrations, I suppose. Since I was taught single embouchure, I discourage
double lip playing in my students, for several reasons. First, the embouchure
is one of two support points for the clarinet (the other, of course, being
the thumb). I like my students to tuck the mouthpiece up under the front
teeth, and support the reed with good lower lip pressure and right thumb
support. Second, students who try double lip embouchure generally produce a
flabby, flat tone, with little center. Generally, moving their mouthpiece
(gently!) will force them to use upper teeth. I want my students to take in
as much mouthpiece as possible, and that upper lip just gets in the way.
Over the years, I have heard many fine players who use double lip .Those
that I have questioned about it generally stated that they switched to that
style after several years of playing. One of my teachers, Kalman Bloch,
played for some time with a double embouchure, tried to switch me to that
style when I was about 13 (with little success), and then proceeded to switch
back to single lip himself! I believe Kalman utilized the single lip
embouchure for the rest of his career.
The final reason for teaching beginners single lip lies with the method
books generally used in American schools. Virtually all of them encourage
single lip embouchure. I have used many books over the years, and can't
recall one that taught double lip.
Ron, I don't mean to discourage you from trying what works for you.
Maybe some of the other Klarinet people out there in Cyberland can assit
you. Anybody else successfully use (and teach!) double embouchure?

Jim Lytthans
Anaheim, CA
<jlytthans@-----.com>