Klarinet Archive - Posting 000504.txt from 2003/02

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Embouchure (again!)
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 21:46:05 -0500

Ian, I had a very young student once (8, if I recall correctly). She
couldn't produce a "real" note for an entire month and then made great
progress. It was the most frustrating thing I've ever done to try to =
help
this kid play that clarinet.

Christy Erickson

-----Original Message-----
From: Holloways [mailto:holloways@-----.za]=20
Subject: [kl] Embouchure (again!)

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.

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