Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 1995/03

From: Tom Ascher <U15310@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Prosthetic devices!
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 16:02:08 -0500

Well, the standard Bay "lip ease" works just fine. I had originally used
some about a year ago and didn't like. Seemed like too much stuff in the
mouth. However, I tried again recently, cutting and folding in much thinner
width, and now it works fine. I start with about a 2"x2" wide piece, fold
it in thirds so the resulting piece is about 3/4x2". I fold this lengthwise,
so I get a piece that folds over the lower teeth, extending down about
3/8" on each side. Because the material is essentially wax coated plastic,
when I bite down and use it, it conforms to the lower teeth, protects the
lip and is hardly noticeable. Actually, not noticeable at all. And, it
can be reused a number of time, if you dry it off between uses. Finally,
I don't know why this would be referred to as a prosthetic device. It
doesn't take the place of something else!? On the other hand, the clarinet
itself IS a prosthetic device which I happily use in place of my natural
vocal cords which no longer (not for 40 years or so) produce soprano notes...:)