Klarinet Archive - Posting 000114.txt from 2003/02

From: Tski1128@-----.com
Subj: [kl] The great double lip debate
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 14:54:04 -0500

I have played double lip for nearly 33 years. In an army band, on the parade field and on countless klezmer gigs. STanding up! I've played that way ever since I read Steins book the Art of Klarinet playing. My two primary teachers in my youth were Chris Wolfe (Ast prin. Baltimore) and Iggy Genunsa(legend!) Both of these guys played double.

I have to say that while I think that double lip is the easiest embouchure to teach to a beginner. I think this is because it is harder in the beginning to bite too hard with both lips on the mouthpiece. I say in the beginning because I've heard a few double lippers, my self included, get to a point that using too much presure on the reed. So after such along time using it, I feel that the top lip is really the least important part the double lip embouchure. In order of importance I think it would problably be
1 amount of mouthpiece and reed in your mouth
2 Shape of oral cavity
3 breathing
4 top lip
Playing double lip effects all of these somewhat. I know when I switch to single lip and listen to the tapes I've done I can't hear when I switch. This is because the rest of the equation has remained vertually the same. But I still think it is the easiest to show a beginner. Try this with your next 4 th grade student.
1. Show them the double lip idea (sucking on a soda straw)
2. Have them play an open g and apply pressure( bite)
3 if they close off the sound have them slide more mouthpiece into their mouth.
4 repeat this until it squaks then back it out just a smidge.
5 have them find that spot, take in as much mouthpiece as possible with out a loud sqauk. now have them play a scale. My experience has shown me that their sounds will be bigger more vibrant and less choked off sounding. The throat tones will be intune and quite frankly, the kids I've started off like this sound like real clarinet players who just can't play any tunes yet. Now many of you will read this and say " What a stupid idea", "Thats not how my teacher would do it" " Thats not how I do" To yous guys( it's a baltimore thing) TRY IT!!!! I'm either right or wrong it will either improve their sounds or it won't. Apply some scientific method to it, tape it, let someone else hear or better yet get your student to TRY IT.
To those that do email me your experiences with yourself and or your students.
Tom Puwalski clarinetist With Lox&vodka

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