Klarinet Archive - Posting 000695.txt from 1997/07

From: Sherman Friedland <sherman@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: klarinet-digest V1 #97 EMBOCHURE
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 00:26:59 -0400

This is in reply to the Shaws concerning embochure problems. I hope that
this gets to you because I am on the digest now and don't know exactly how
to reply to specific problems or messages. At any rate, the most
therapeutic and reasonably easy suggestion for jaw problems is something I
have used all of my life with 100% results and that is switching to
"double-lip", which means folding both upper and lower lips over the teeth.
You will find that that is all the instruction you need. You cannot force
anything with this wonderful embochure and when you get used to it you will
sound better, and you cannot bang your fingers when you play because
everything is felt in the tissue itself and not the teeth; you cannot take
too much mouthpiece in and your intonation will improve after you get used
to it. It can be used to help single-lip and/or vice verse.
The finest players of this century have used it.....the ones with the best
sound, so try it, and even if it doesn't live up to my claims, it will
definitely help. Good luck. Sherman Friedland

PS you will have two difficult notes initially, thumb f and high c, the
clarinet will "fly" on you. If you have this problem, practise these two
notes with your left index finger holding the clainet above the a key until
you get used to the difference. Again, good luck.
Sherman Friedland
retired June 1, 1997, Concordia University, and formerly principal
clarinet, Milwaukee Symphony