Klarinet Archive - Posting 000420.txt from 1999/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Embouchure formation (was: Intonation Problems)
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 10:46:12 -0400

On Tue, 11 May 1999, Paulette W. Gulakowski wrote:

> When I demonstrated to my college clarinet prof that my tonguing,
> control and sound were better (honest) with a bunched chin he let me
> play my juries that way so I could graduate with a Mus Ed degree. I
> continued to work in his lessons for the flat chin and still do. (I
> also teach it when occasion arises) I have never reached the clarity,
> facility and smoothness I had then but I have not despaired. Maybe my
> mouth is built funny?

More than likely, you just haven't developed the muscles which are
required to properly control the embouchure. If you have been playing for
a considerable length of time, and just "hanging on with the teeth" every
time you play, then the muscles of the chin just haven't been
strengthened. Probably when you do try to flatten the chin, you find that
you can play that way for a few seconds, and then it feel much more
comfortable to just revert to the unstructured way.

I think the solution is to not allow yourself to play for even a few
seconds with your customary approach. Get a mirror, and play scales and
long tones, watching to make sure the chin is down. If the embouchure
starts collapsing, stop playing. You may be able to do it correctly for
only a few seconds at a time at first. Come back several times each day,
and extend the practice period by a few minutes. Within a week, you ought
to be able to sustain it for a much longer time. Keep looking in the
mirror!

If you have been playing for years with a certain embouchure and for a few
minutes with another, it wouldn't be surprising that the one which is more
habitually ingrained would be able to be better controlled. However, the
question would be, would your sound, intonation, control, etc., be better
if you had equal control over a more conventional embouchure. I suspect
that it would. Don't forget also that your ears have become accustomed
over a period of many years to hearing yourself as you sound with the
"mushy" embouchure. The ears will have to be retrained along with the
embouchure muscles. Use a tape recorder and the ears of your friends and
teacher to confirm for yourself the differences (and improvements, I
hope). Use the mirror faithfully!

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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