Klarinet Archive - Posting 000863.txt from 1996/02

From: Donald Yungkurth <DYungkurth@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: tonguing and jaw movement
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 17:33:05 -0500

When I began to take lessons again after a 40 year hiatus, one of the things
my teacher had me do was watch myself in a mirror when playing the opening of
the Weber 2nd concerto (enter on high F - next note low F) . I quickly
learned that I had significant jaw motion. He didn'y say what was right or
wrong, but just told me to think about it and report back at the next lesson.

I quickly found that I didn't have to move my jaw to get the notes and was
able to stop doing it. As to why I moved the jaw before, we believe we
understand what had happened.

I had already changed to a significantly better mouthpiece, on his advice,
after using some cheapy that came with some used clarinet I bought years ago.
It turned out that all the jaw motion was done to get notes to speak and to
play in tune with the old moutpiece. With a decent mouthpiece, I no longer
had to use all that extra effort, but did it out of habit! My teacher had
realized about the jaw motion from day one, but didn't bother to make me
aware of it until he sorted out my mouthpiece problem. A great teacher!

Don Yungkurth (DYungkurth@-----.com)