Klarinet Archive - Posting 000451.txt from 2001/03

From: "Doug Sears" <dsears@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] embouchure woes
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 01:14:52 -0500

Here's a couple of ideas to consider trying:

1. Use a slightly softer reed. It may not feel good at first, but you can get
used to it.

2. I wonder if your barrel+mouthpiece is a little too long for the pitch
you're tuning to. Try playing a little flatter -- tune to A=438 or so,
without pulling out -- and see if that relaxes your embouchure.

--Doug
----------------------------
Doug Sears dsears@-----.net/~dsears

>Having been a serious clarinetist in my youth, I returned to the instrument
>a few years ago in my 50's. I am having problems strengthening my
>embouchure. It seems to collapse after 10 minutes or so, then recovers
>after 10 minutes. So I am trying to break up my practice into small pieces
>during the day. I now have a great accompanist for an hour or two every
>week, but last week I completely lost it after 45 minutes of playing. I
>play on a 3 or 3 1/2 reed -- my setup is not that resistant, so I am a bit
>puzzled why it is taking me so long to develop the strength I need.
>
>Has anyone else experienced this problem and/or does anyone have any
>suggestion other than just hanging in with it?
>
>Many thanks,
>
>Stewart Kiritz

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