Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 2007/11

From: "Steve Perry" <stephanperry007@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Finding a mouthpiece
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:41:17 -0500

Karl:

Thanks for the thoughtful message. I wanted to make some comments and so
thought it might be better to do this off-list.

The suggestion for a lighter mouthpiece was made for comfort. I've been
playing double lip for about 5 months now and I'm still not comfortable with
it. I did find some pads in the local hardware store that help. They don't
affect the pitch or the sound and I'm determined to tough it out.

The reason for switching back to double lip is that the result is better. I
had the good fortune to have a couple of lessons with Mitchell Lurie in the
summer and although he doesn't teach double lip (and never has) he
encouraged me to use it because I get a much better result.. I had played
double lip in college and had to stop after a dental injury. I switched to
single lip and never went back.

My solution for now is to rest the bell on my knee or between my knees. I
try not to use any pressure and it's basically finger action that causes
problems. It seems to be getting better but at a slow rate.

Anyway, your insight into the mouthpiece switch gave me something to think
about.

Steve

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 11:51 AM
Subject: RE: [kl] Finding a mouthpiece

> Steve,
>
> You may be going down a wrong path in buying a different mouthpiece so
> soon
> after starting an embouchure change like the one you're making. I play
> double lip some of the time, and I'm not so sure based on my experience
> that
> the weight of the mouthpiece will really make much if any difference in
> your
> comfort level. I'm assuming the suggestion was made to minimize the
> pressure
> against your upper lip between the mouthpiece and your teeth - if there
> was
> some other reason, then you can disregard the rest of this post. I'm not
> sure the weight of the crystal will make much difference when you tuck
> your
> upper lip in. The weight pushing up against your upper lip against your
> teeth is caused by the weight of the entire clarinet rotating around your
> contact point underneath the reed. If you consider how little the weight
> difference between a crystal mouthpiece and a hard rubber one would
> represent as a part of the whole instrument, especially so close to the
> fulcrum (your bottom teeth and lip), it's hard to imagine that it would
> matter.
>
> A couple of ideas occur to me after reading your post. Why are you
> switching
> (back) to double lip? Is it a question of not liking to have your upper
> teeth resting directly on the mouthpiece, or are you trying to solve some
> kind of control problem?
>
> If you're just uncomfortable with your teeth on the mouthpiece, then I
> don't
> think you'll find it hard to use the mouthpiece you already have. You will
> need to tough it out for a couple of weeks, and be sure you're doing
> enough
> with the embouchure muscles (in the lips, not your jaw) to support the
> reed
> and mouthpiece all the way around. Looking for a lighter weight mouthpiece
> may turn out to be a waste of energy and money.
>
> If there's some basic problem with response or control that you're trying
> to
> solve, it's possible that a new mouthpiece *instead of* the embouchure
> change (or even in addition to it) may be a better road to try. And if
> that's the actual situation, trying to duplicate what you already are
> using
> in a lighter-weight material may end up just perpetuating the basic
> problem.
>
> What exactly have you set out to accomplish with these changes?
>
> Karl
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Perry [mailto:stephanperry007@-----.net]
> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 12:54 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Finding a mouthpiece
>
> ... Am I going down the
> wrong path thinking I need an open tip and short facing?
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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