Klarinet Archive - Posting 000664.txt from 2001/03

From: Rhea Jacobs <rhea-j@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] The spirit is willing but the lip is weak!
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 16:24:13 -0500

A re-beginner is seeking advice from all you experienced teachers!

I've recently begun playing the clarinet again after a long (37 year)
hiatus, and have been in a position to practice regularly since the
first of the year. (Let's just say that our local instrument repair
technician has a LONG backlog!)

I definitely expected things to go slowly as far as getting my chops
back, but I'm finding, to my great frustration, that my lip tires after
45 minutes (or an hour at most), and that I have to quit and rest for a
day. I tried double sessions with half-day rests, but I blew the lip out
to the point where my teacher sent me home and said to rest it for a few
days and not to try to rush it.

This is frustrating to me, not because I'm trying to get back several
years of serious study in a few months, but because I feel like I'm worn
out as soon as I'm warmed up. I'd really like to find some way to
strengthen the lip so that I can practice for a couple hours at a time.

What I think is contributing to the problem is reeds. I'm stuck between
3's, which are a bit too soft, and 3 1/2's, which are still a bit stiff.
I have been starting off with the 3 1/2's and then moving down after
I've been through my scale warmup or when I feel fatigue, whichever
comes first.

Any suggestions from those of you who are experienced players and
teachers would be greatly welcome. My teacher is fine, but she has very
few adult students, and I doubt she's had to deal with this before.

Thanks so much,
Rhea Jacobs
rhea-j@-----.net

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org