Klarinet Archive - Posting 000131.txt from 2002/05

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Embouchures in general
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 06:15:15 -0400

On Sun, 28 Apr 2002 04:14:14 EDT, A4ACHESON@-----.com said:

> The use of 'o', 'oo', 'eo' etc. syllables in describing embouchure is
> a waste of time unless you are defining it to people with similar
> characteristics of tooth and jaw formation. Similarly talk of
> 'pressure' or 'no pressure' embouchures.

Agreed, if it's described in a prescriptive way. As a repertoire of
things to try out, and under the caveat you give above, such
conversation can be useful, I think.

> ... I try to keep my instructions to a minimum, as in:- "The lower lip
> must not feel 'trapped'. Once the muscle in the lower lip goes over
> the edges of the teeth, the lip loses the ability and flexibility to
> make the minute changes in texture and position which the ear will
> determine. How much or how little lip is over the teeth can not be
> prescribed."

It's this sentence that I don't really understand:

> Once the muscle in the lower lip goes over the edges of the teeth, the
> lip loses the ability and flexibility to make the minute changes in
> texture and position which the ear will determine.

It seems to me that muscle of the lower lip still *can* have the ability
and flexibility to make those minor changes, even if it goes over the
edges of the teeth. The danger is when it stops being used as a muscle.

Obviously some positions make the effective use of the lip as a muscle
easier than others.

Does the author of the quote -- is it you, or Stein, Arthur? -- perhaps
mean, once *the whole of* the muscle in the lower lip goes over the
edges of the teeth, etc? That would seem to make more sense of the
following sentence, too, namely "How much or how little lip is over the
teeth can not be prescribed."

By the way, I like the use of the word 'texture' in the above. Perhaps
'tone' would be even better? (Isn't that what the body-builders talk
about, muscle tone?-)

I mostly use an analogy with a more or less pumped up bicycle tyre, and
the words 'flexed' and 'dead' get pressed into service, too.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
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