Klarinet Archive - Posting 000511.txt from 2004/07

From: <chamberlaind@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tired Throat
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 20:49:12 -0400

Eilisha:

I am a clarinetist but have also taken voice lessons for several years.
"Opening (your) throat", as you described should not cause discomfort. On
the contrary, an open throat is less stressful and helps the airflow.

If it were me, I would concentrate on my breath support, especially the
belly muscles. The diaphragm should be supported by strong belly muscles.
That should be the basis of your tone production: the foundation as it were.
When I had trouble producing a good sound vocally as well as with the
clarinet it was because I was not supporting with my belly. It takes a lot
of muscle strength to play the clarinet and if you are just starting back,
you may be overcompensating by tensing up your throat instead of using your
belly muscles to support your sound.

Sometimes you may not even be aware where the tension is but 99% of the
time, you are tensing in one area to compensate for a weakness in another.
Practice long tones (as in Klose) as a warm up. Notice how your belly
muscles are feeling. You should actually feel as if you have had a workout
after you play. Don't be tense in your belly but make sure they are firm
supporting the air column. See if this doesn't help relax the throat.

In addition, if you are not happy with your sound, have you had a teacher or
more experienced player check your clarinet for leaks and have you had
someone check out your mouthpiece, reed, ligature setup? You may be playing
against a very resistant horn or mouthpiece setup. Be sure you have a setup
which works with you. If your throat hurts, you may be working too hard
because your mouthpiece is not suitable to you and your reeds may be too
strong.

Hope this helps.

Kim C

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