Klarinet Archive - Posting 000522.txt from 1995/04

From: Steve Kobb <kobb@-----.NET>
Subj: Something from my dentist
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1995 00:13:31 -0400

After many years of neglecting my clarinet, I'm starting to get back into it.

Naturally, my embouchure is weak and my lower lip hurts like hell after a
few minutes of playing. I started to think about something I did back in
high school band. I would chew up some paper and create sort of a cap for
my lower teeth, so they wouldn't cut so deeply into my lip.

Recently, I asked my dentist to create a little plastic devise that does the
same thing, only it presumably would last longer than a chewed up wad of
paper. After thinking about this for a while, several questions occurred to me:

* Does anyone else have any experience with a protective appliance like
this? Does it work? Was it worth the money to get it made?

* Maybe my premise is all wrong. Maybe I shouldn't be clamping down so hard
on the mouthpiece. Maybe if I had a different reed strength and mouthpiece,
I wouldn't be in the market for something to cover my teeth. Is that right?

I'd love to read the group's comments. Fire away, folks.

Steve Kobb