Klarinet Archive - Posting 000497.txt from 2003/02

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Embouchure (again!)
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 18:05:48 -0500

OK....now with more information.....here are some suggestions.

Your student might be overblowing high b because her throat is too
restricted and/or the back of the tongue is too high toward the roof of
the mouth. I think the problem has to do with "voicing." Have you tried
having the student sing the actual pitch?

On Monday, February 17, 2003, at 01:30 PM, Holloways wrote:

> Well, thanks to all the experts who gave me their valued opinions on my
> problem. I think some may work, but here are my comments in reply.
> 1) It's not the setup, though I'll certainly try another mouthpiece and
> reed. When you're an accomplished player yourself I guess it's easy to
> make
> any student setup work! However, my son played on the same instrument
> as a
> beginner and blew the loose paint off the wall.....
> 2) Instrument is working 100%.
> 3) Seems to be some confusion (thanks to me) on which 'E' I was talking
> about. It's first line on the staff 'E', not low 'E'. I have on
> occasion,
> though rarely, taken a student down to low 'E' on her second lesson,
> but
> this one is still trying to get a note of any sort to work. Sorry
> Karl, I've
> checked her one finger and one thumb! It's certainly embouchure!
> 4) Not biting too hard. Tried that. Lots of air coming through, but if
> she
> blows hard she simply plays high 'B'.
> 5) I think Forest has the best ideas. Overbite should be an advantage,
> you're right, that's why I'm baffled. I think 'voicing' as you
> described it,
> could be the problem.
>
> So, I'll try again next week. She'll probably walk in and play the
> first
> movement of the Mozart..............!
>
> Thanks again to all.
>
> Ian H.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
Richard Bush
Maker of 'BasSonic' bassoon reeds
760 Robins Avenue
Ogden, UT 84404
(801) 393-7265
rbushidioglot@-----.com

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