Klarinet Archive - Posting 001240.txt from 2000/10

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Bell-Leg Symbiosis
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 22:18:10 -0400

<><> Kevin Fay wrote:
I would not look at this as a Universal Truth. There are many
*exceptionally* fine clarinetists who rest the bell of the horn on their
leg or lap; the late Harold Wright and Elsa Ludwig-Vedehr are two that
come to mind.

Point taken. Would the following be a more accurate statement?

Even if the leg or lap is used for support in the vertical axis
(perpendicular to the floor), a solid connection between right thumb and
upper teeth is still required.
Even if the upper teeth are overlaid by the upper lip (double lip
embouchure), a solid and constant connection between the right thumb and
the upper teeth is the foundation for a steady instrument over which the
fingers can move independent of the instrument's weight. A solid
thumb-upper teeth connection also allows the embouchure to control the
reed and to shape the air, rather than carrying the instrument's weight.

I'm not posting this for the sake of verbiage. It seems to me
that this is an important point -- a fundamental beginner's error that
can be incorrectly lumped together with the other more common warning:
"Don't bite the mouthpiece."
Advising a student not to bite the mouthpiece doesn't address the
entire problem. Is the student biting in order to [ineffectively]
control the reed, or is the student also biting in order to hang on to
the instrument? Or perhaps both?

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