Klarinet Archive - Posting 000378.txt from 1997/05

From: Lord Rob <rteitelbaum@-----.EDU>
Subj: RE: scales
Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 22:20:26 -0400

Julie,

I think the procedure you describe of yanking instruments
from someone's mouth to check the firmness of the
embouchure is a great one-for brass players. For clarinets
it's an incredibly stupid and dangerous practice. I don't know
if this band director was a brass player who just assumed it
would be good for woodwinds or what, but I've played under
a lot of directors and never heard of this being done, and in
my opinion you have every right to be annoyed. First of all,
there's no general consensus on how firm an embouchure
should be (or on any other details of embouchure for that
matter!) Secondly, I think most players would agree with me
(and I'm sure we'll hear about it if I'm wrong) that an embouchure
should, in any case, not be a death-grip of the mouth, which is
what this director seems to be after. Thirdly, if the embouchure
WAS that firm, then yanking the clarinet from someone's mouth
would be a good way to put a nice fat tooth-mark into the
mouthpiece. And for my final rant, I feel it necessary to point out
that wiggling the instrument around inside someone's mouth is
also a good way to mess up a reed, as the tip could get split on the
lower teeth, etc.

Rob Teitelbaum
Claremont McKenna College