Klarinet Archive - Posting 001140.txt from 1997/09

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: sore jaw
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 13:50:16 -0400

Tami,
I have had a problem which seems to be similar. However, the cause
of my discomfort was that my lower teeth were actually MOVING. They were
being pushed inwards causing my embouchure to be distorted if I wanted to
keep griping the mouthpiece in the same way. This put strain on my cheeks
and they tired quickly causing me aching there and in my upper jaw, not
ot mention a shaky lip and leaaking air.
If you find that you have an overbite after playing which
disappears as your teeth revert to theirnormal position, you have my
condition. I solved it by getting a rigid plastic retainer made by my
dentist. I use it when I play. Unfortunately, I had to learn to deal with
a slightly changed embouchure, but it is a small price to pay for the
ability to play for more than 5 minutes without pain. On the other hand,
because of it, I no longer have to use cigarette paper, as it goes over
the bottom teeth and cushions them. Hope this helps.
If you do not have my condition, I can only speculate that either
you are biting too hard (the result of an embouchure change?) or you may
have an infection in the cheek/gum causing it to lose muscle tone/bite
strength.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Wed, 24 Sep 1997 HUFFT5338@-----.edu wrote:

> I am a senior performance major at a University in Iowa and I have been having
> a problem with my jaws and general embouchyre while playing and shortly after
> playing. My jaw hurts, feels really tight and shakes sometimes. I often leak
> air because my mouth seems to become too tired. Has any one else had thesse
> problems or does any one have some advice for me?
>
> Tami Huff
> University of Northern Iowa
>