Klarinet Archive - Posting 000576.txt from 2004/08

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] air leakage
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 18:04:43 -0400


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tracy Jones" <tracyj_83@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 3:06 PM
Subject: [kl] air leakage

> Hello all,
> I am having a problem that is driving me crazy. I am leaking air and
making
> a noise from my nasal area. It happens pretty much all the time at this
> point, and I have had this problem, off and on, for about 4 years. I have
> been told that a little of it isn't necessarily a horrible thing, because
it
> means that my palate and muscular tissue in that area is very relaxed,
which
> is why it makes that sound. Recently though, it has gotten so bad that it
> can sometimes drown out the sound of my clarinet when I'm playing softly.
> It used to happen a lot when I play in higher registers, or when I played
> very softly. Now it is happening all the time. It seems the more that I
> focus on trying to fix it, it gets worse, or if I get it to stop for a
> while, my tone gets sounding strange and the response is terrible. Does
> anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this to stop?
>
> Thanks,
> Tracy Jones
>
Tracy,

Air is leaking past the epiglottis and into your sinus area. Changing your
tongue position and direct the flow of air farther forward on the upper
pallet. The further forward you can move the airflow the better. This takes
a lot of pressure off the epiglottis.

Forest Aten

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