Klarinet Archive - Posting 000022.txt from 2003/08

From: ormondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece Patches
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 02:40:05 -0400

Patches cushion the upper teeth and reduce their vibration, which in
turn muffles the sound.....

....just kidding, but the issue is that all parts of your airway
contribute to your sound. The sensation of biting (or not biting) into
a patch may (or may not) affect your embouchure, the shape that you form
within your oral cavity and throat, your tongue position and
articulation, perhaps even your breath support because your embouchure
feels more (or less) secure, etc etc etc. You didn't mention whether
you use the thicker black rubber patches or the thinner clear mylar
patches. If one of type of patch influences some aspect of your
airway, you may discover that the other type does not. I know one
bassoonist who feels that her sound suffers if she hasn't drunk a malted
milk shake before playing.

You will find major disagreement between respected authorities about the
relative importance of "air column" vs. "material of construction".
Persons on each side of this debate will tell you that it is absolutely
proven one way or the other, but it isn't.

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