Klarinet Archive - Posting 000307.txt from 1995/07

From: Fred Cicetti <cicetti@-----.COM>
Subj: You're All Wonderful!
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 22:28:40 -0400

God, I love this list.

I belong to a Screenwriters' list and, believe me, those people are
boring next to all you Klarinetists.

Just when I thought the list was getting like a magazine subscription
with the same stories, up pops stuff about "demi-clarinets" and
toilet-paper rolls for low Eb's, and reversing your mouthpiece. I'm not
being sarcastic here.

I'm comparatively new to the clarinet, although I'm making up for lost
time. It never occurred to me to put my mouthpiece in the lower joint. I
tried it tonight and was amazed. I mean, it's totally useless, but it was
great fun. Makes a great duck call for ducks with lousy pitch.

The toilet roll worked. Sound quality sucked, but I was somewhere below
Eb, I think.

Saved the best for last. The reverse mouthpiece was fantastic! Of course,
I had to point the horn up. Felt like Dizzy Gillespie. But the sound was
excellent. It took a while to adjust. The secret, I think, is a soft,
sax-like embouchure. I was getting nice sound with about half the breath
support. I plan to keep practicing this technique for the day I have a
lower-lip blister or canker sore. It's good to have a back-up lip.

Does anyone make mouthpieces designed for upper-lip clarinetists? Any
other information about this technique would be appreciated.

fred cicetti

cicetti@-----.com