Klarinet Archive - Posting 000764.txt from 2001/10

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] FW: Speaking of "Returning Clarinetists"....
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 13:35:30 -0400

Regarding my return to playing clarinet.

One thing that I learned from a mentor of mine while in the Army Band had to
do with the lower lip placement. Since I was stationed in Germany the
subject came up one day of using a double lip embouchure. Many European
clarinetist use this.

He showed me what he learned from his professor while attending graduate
school and felt it could work for me also.

Many people play clarinet who do not have a perfect row of upper or lower
teeth. The shape of the teeth can certainly affect the way you position the
mouthpiece in your mouth and the way you shape the lower lip over the bottom
teeth. I had learned the standard way of placing the lower lip over the
bottom teeth, but occasionally this would lead to problems with my lower lip
from the teeth cutting into them. I have especially sharp teeth and it only
made matters worse. When I had to do a lot of playing I would fold up a
piece of paper and placing it over my lower teeth to help cushion the
contact. Now they make products for this, but back then they did not.

Well, I learned not to put the lower lip over the bottom teeth, but simply
pull it tight up against the front of the teeth. This leaves very little of
the lip actually curling over the edge of the teeth, and the reed does not
rest on the part that curls over the top to any great degree, so I now have
no problem with my teeth cutting into my lower lip.

I would imagine that this would be another problem for people returning to
play clarinet again, and would limit the amount of time one could
comfortably practice.

I also find that by resting the reed mainly on the lip instead of on the
teeth I have more control. It also makes your chin flat because you have to
pull down on the chin to pull the lip tight against the teeth, instead of
pushing up with the chin like some beginners to support the lip rolled over
the teeth.

It is hard to describe, but for me it worked wonders and I never have a sore
lip any more regardless of how long I play or practice.

Tom Henson
Houston, Texas

Mitch Halpern wrote: << Yes, I, too, am a returning clarinetist. I
played seriously through
college and grad school, but have only played/studies intermittently (at
best) for the last 18 years.

So far, my experiences pretty much mimic those mentioned by the other
recent "returnees", except for one very troubling item: a completely
unstable
embouchure. After only a few moments of playing, my lower lip and jaw
start an "involuntary tremble" which, obviously, makes consistent tone
quality, intonation, and articulation essentially impossible in the clarinet
and
higher registers. I have experimented with reed strength and with some
old mouthpieces I have had "lying around" and nothing (yet) seems to have
any significant effect on the tremor. I hope this is just muscle fatigue
from a weak embouchure which will disappear as the respective muscles gain
strength. >>

---------------------------------------------------------------------