Klarinet Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 1999/02

From: DHmorgan@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Embouchure question
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 04:46:13 -0500

In a message dated 2/1/99 8:24:06 PM Pacific Standard Time,
nleupold@-----.edu writes:

<< <Lots of snipped prior material>

> I played for years when I was younger, but I know I bit a
> lot and still do--I'm trying to figure out how to correct that--

Rather than address all of the stuff you wrote prior to the above
sentence, let's just address your quest for an understanding of how
to correct biting while playing. One very concrete suggestion is
to incorporate a double-lip embouchure into your practice routine.
Even if only for three or four minutes at a time, play with a double-
lip embouchure in order to develop greater awareness of how your lips
function when playing, and also to educate yourself on what it feels
and sounds like to play without pinching the reed. It is almost im-
possible to pinch the reed when playing double lip.

Neil
>>
Thanks Neil! I have already begun to do play double-lip in just the way you
suggest and I have found it very helpful, but it did leave me with that
burning question about the role of the lower teeth which I posed in my post,
and to which I'm still looking for an answer. Perhaps I'm asking the question
in a confusing way, but I'm trying to figure out if the lower lower lip rests
on top of the lower teeth AT ALL. I keep seeing two possible scenarios: In
one scenario, while the lower lip and chin muscles provide support, the lower
lip does it's part while resting just a tad on the lower teeth as a kind of
'understructure'--the teeth are like a box spring below the cushion of the
'support' mattress (lower lip). In the other scenario, the lower lip pushes
up and out and the teeth only prevent it from going into the mouth. Is one
better than the other? Or does it differ from player to player? Or do the
experts disagree? Or is the question in some way moot?

Thanks again for any thoughts you have--

Truly,
Don

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