Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 1996/12

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: throat problems
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 10:15:41 -0500

Yossi,
Sounds to me like you are tensing up and closing your throat.
This can cause you to actually hum as you play. Benny Goodman used to do
this all the time when he played Jazz and the technique is widely used in
the Jazz/Pop world. Giora Feidman does it too.
I have had a few students
with this condition. My advice is to teach yourself to support
correctly. You are probably substituting throat tightening and lip
support for good old diaphragm support. Do you do long tones? If not, you
should do at least 10-20 per day. Doing these will help to train your
body to support correctly. The reason the problem starts after 10-20
minutes is that by then your lip is a tiny bit tired and you compensate
by too much throat support. Meanwhile, you should really by playing with a very
relaxed, open throat and supporting with the diaphragm.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Yossi Itzkovich wrote:

> On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Yossi Itzkovich wrote:
>
> > Hi Steve,
> >
> > I'm afraid my English is not the best...but I'll try.
> >
> > I mean that I begin to feel like I getting choked, and my throat starts
> > making sounds like chrrrrrr (just I hear the sound).
> >
> > I have noticed that it happens most with the clarinet, less with alt sax,
> > lesser with tenor sax and not with bariton sax -does mouthpiece size is
> > the reason?
> >
> > Since these problem started, I began playing flute -without any problem
> > such as these.
> >
> > Anybody else suffers the same ?
> >
> > suggestions?
> >
> >
> > Yossi
> >
> >
> >
> >
>