Klarinet Archive - Posting 000023.txt from 2003/11

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Bottom Teeth on Reed
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 12:12:44 -0500

I have a question that I bet one of you can point me in the right direction
for an answer.

I was experimenting over the weekend with my embouchure and trying various
things out.

I am still working on double lip, but have not progressed to the point where
I play double lip all the time. I'm not sure I would need to anyway.

I have been using Bay lip-eze to help sore lips and tried something just for
the heck of it. I tried using my upper lip over my top teeth, and (gasp) put
my bottom teeth directly on the reed (very lightly of course-just enough to
stabilize the mouthpiece). I left the Bay lip-eze on while doing this to
provide some sort of cushion to the reed. I was very pleased with the
results. The reed seemed to be able to vibrate a little more feely and the
affect on my tone was definitely apparent. I like the resultant sound very
much.

The down side, is that I tend to play with quite a bit of mouthpiece in my
mouth and using my teeth on the reed puts my tongue in a very low position,
making it harder to get clean articulation. I suppose if I practiced this
way enough I could improve upon this. I'm not sure if any real benefit would
be gained by doing this however.

I faintly remember reading somewhere that in the very early days of clarinet
that this is the way that some clarinetist played, with the lip over the
upper teeth and the bottom teeth on the reed (reversed to what is now
normal). Does anyone know if this was true?

Obviously, you can not use anything but very light pressure or you will
start cause problems like squeaking.

Thanks to anyone wishing to comment on this.

Tom Henson

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