Klarinet Archive - Posting 000252.txt from 2002/07

From: "C & B Sabal" <jomalu@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Orthodontics and embouchure
Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2002 14:16:00 -0400

The wisdom teeth conversation got me thinking....I'm back to daily practice
now after about 6 yrs off, but this time I'm wearing braces (didn't have the
$$ for them way back in the teen yrs). I was apprehensive in starting with
a mouth full of metal as I knew it would mess w/ my embouchure. It took a
while to adjust and it seems as my teeth move, my embouchure needs to change
a bit as well. One thing I have noticed is that I've taken to having more
of the mouthpiece in my mouth as well as more of my bottom lip pulled over
my teeth while playing than I remember having in the past. I guess it's for
comfort, BUT I also seemed to have developed a bad habit of tonguing behind
the lip rather than on the reed. (yes, I'm cringing, too). I've HOPING
that it'll be easier to get back to proper mechanics once my braces are
removed (hopefully this winter).

Wondering what others' experiences are with braces and how they affected
your playing (and how you overcame the problems)

Thanks!!

Barb Sabal

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