Klarinet Archive - Posting 001437.txt from 1998/03

From: C E Field <CEField@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Brass VS. Woodwinds
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 18:47:36 -0500

Justin, I'm not a professional clarinetist; nor was I a music major. But it is
my strong opinion that you are going to foul up your clarinet embouchure
BIGTIME with those other instruments. I have yet to meet a "doubler" (or
whatever) who plays clarinet well. Passably, perhaps, but not well. I think
you need to decide if clarinet is important enough to you to devote your full
attention to it.

Picking up a trombone or another brasswind once in a while probably isn't
going to hurt. But I believe that playing those instruments to any extent will
affect your clarinet embouchure negatively. I have found this also to be true
for those who play saxophone; their clarinet embouchure is like a wet noodle.
That said, I have a feeling that playing oboe might actually improve your
clarinet embouchure. I know that some clarinetists use a double embouchure.

Now, let's see what the experts have to say because I am probably wrong about
all of this ;-)

Cindy