Klarinet Archive - Posting 000564.txt from 1996/09

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Re: soft pallate and clarinet playing (fwd)
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 08:55:47 -0400

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 12:27:00 +0100
From: Linda Shockey <L.Shockey%reading.ac.uk@-----.UK>
To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET <KLARINET=VCCSCENT>
Subject: Re: soft pallate and clarinet playing

On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, GREG BAKER wrote:

> Is it possible to raise the soft pallate while playing
> clarinet? Does it rise automatically, even if the muoth is closed? What
> difference would (or does) it make to the tone of the instrument?
>
the soft palate (or velum) HAS to be up while playing the clarinet. if
you have it down, air will leak out your nose, and you won't be able to
get any buildup of pressure in the mouth.

Comment:
Absolutely! The muscles get tired with doing this, though - this is one
of the causes of one's "lip going"; it quite isn't the lip at all, but
the palate. N. Leupold & G. Baker may (or not) be thinking of
modifications in mouth cavity shape.
Roger Shilcock