Klarinet Archive - Posting 000318.txt from 2002/05

From: "Ralph Cromer" <cromerrc@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Mr. Acker Bilk
Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 17:38:21 -0400

Annie's posting mentions the inimitable Mr. Acker Bilk - quite well known
for "Stranger on the Shore" (his composition by the way). He does have a
unique style.

I'm curious if any of the English correspondents to the List have ever heard
Acker Bilk play with a more "standard" style of tone?? Do his capabilities
extend beyond what I'm used to hearing him play on the "Stranger on the
Shore" ??

Ralph Cromer
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Lenoir" <AnneLenoir@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Playing Clarinet With False Teeth

> Dear Howard, and anybody else who does not have or is unable to produce
> a "traditional" embochure.
> I lost several upper molars over the years, and noticed that my
> embochure was not nearly as strong as it used to be. In teaching my
> students, I have been aware of the fact that some students seem to have
> a harder time than others in producing a "traditional" embochure, with a
> pointed chin and firm cheek muscles. I went to look at my pointed chin
> about a year ago and noticed that it did not look as "defined" as it
> once did. Neither did the muscles around my face. In fact, I no longer
> have a "picture-perfect" embochure. I recently got new implants and
> crowns, and it is starting to "look" better. Somehow I learned how to
> survive without those molars for many years. Every once in a while I
> have a student who puffs out their cheeks a bit. After a while, I just
> leave them alone and let them try to get the air through the clarinet
> the best way they can. Some people can sound surprizingly good with
> "puffed-out" cheeks. I don't believe in torturing people to get them to
> play "correctly". My one student to "puffs" also wears braces and has
> hung in there with his clarinet study for quite a while with the braces.
> I understand that clarinetist, Acker Bilk, the guy who recorded
> "Stranger on the Shore", had terrible dental problems. I don't
> particularly care for his tone at all, but he did make a lot of money.
> ANNIE
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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