Klarinet Archive - Posting 000591.txt from 2004/10

From: Elgenubi@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Some more thoughts on Embouchure
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 13:44:22 -0400

Adam, I have a few thoughts. Victor Morosco's Training Routine didn't quite
work for me, either. The first three steps are ok; they get the clarinet into
mouth and air into the clarinet. But the 4th step talks about the 'pressure'
needed to make the clarinet sound. It doesn't seem useful to encourage 'jaw
pressure' and no 'lip pressure'. I think we all agree that some sort of
firmness is necessary, but talking too much about jaw and lips specifically gets
confusing, gets over detailed, and gets us all arguing about how to put it all
into words.

I appreciate your efforts to come up with a description of our process that
would help beginners understand what they are doing. But they don't need to
understand in detail the physics before they are making sounds, do they?

I think I read it suggested here that often the best teaching is letting the
student emulate making the good sound of the teacher (after tending to the the
most basic things, lower lip on teeth, no puffing, keep the face from moving,
etc.) . And to analyze more if and only if stubborn problems emerge.

Wayne Thompson

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