Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 1995/02

From: Kerry Roebuck <roeb7610@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Beginner's Emboucher (response)
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 1995 09:18:17 -0500

Depending on the age and enthusiasm of the pupil, I believe that all
aspects of the emboucher could be stressed in the early stages of
development. I have an 8 yr. old pupil who is so enthusiastic about
learning to play the instrument, and not just to play tunes, that he has
(I believe totally unconsciously) developed quite a firm emboucher. His
inner emboucher, as with many other people's, will take a while yet, but
the basic teeth on-top, lip below, cheeks flat, chin flat and firm, and
breathing through the sides of the mouth and not the nose have all come
along very well. He's been playing for 5 months now.

I constantly have to use analogies and games to get my pupils to master
the basics in the early stages. The above mentioned pupil started off
with a feeble sound, no air support, etc. However, he loves to watch
power rangers, so I told him that his sound shoots out of the clarinet
like a power ranger lazer beam, and the only way it can reach the target
on the other side of the room was for him to play the beam accordingly.
(details not included). He now has a mighty solid sound. This, of
course, does not make learning to play the high notes any more fun.

In conclusion, emphasize the teeth, lip and chin thing. Then slowly,
every two lessons or so, stick in the cheek, corner of the mouth, O
throat, and amount of mouthpiece in the mouth settings. If a pupil
resists learning any of these things, you're fighting a losing battle and
should move him/her onto another instrument or out. You need to have
peace of mind too.

Kerry Roebuck
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo
884-1970 ext.2152

By nature, men are nearly alike, by practice, they get to be wide apart.
- Confucius