Klarinet Archive - Posting 001438.txt from 1998/03

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Brass VS. Woodwinds
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 19:35:05 -0500

On Tue, 31 Mar 1998, C E Field wrote:

> 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 is fairly correct, although there are always exceptions to the rule.

When I attended Michigan as a graduate student, I played trombone in the
third band......as a way to keep my brass chops and teaching up on the
instrument. Practicing clarinet afterwards was almost impossible. The
problem was that the muscles used to play the trombone were used
differently than when playing clarinet. The vibration of the lips for
extended periods of time really negatively affected my ability to sense
the area around the mouthpiece and to use the upper lip effectively. On
the other hand, I learned lots of really neat parts for trombone (that 3rd
trombone part of the Holst Suite in Eb is hard!), and my slide technique
improved!!

Roger Garrett
IWU