Klarinet Archive - Posting 000050.txt from 2008/12

From: Angelia Fagg <arfagg@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] embouchure problems
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:15:20 -0500


Dear list=2C
=20
I'm hoping someone can help me with a very annoying problem with my embouch=
ure. I recently had to stop playing for several months because of various =
health problems. When I could play again=2C I started out with scales and =
long tones=2C then played through all my intermediate books and easier piec=
es before I went back to the Mozart and Schuman I was working on when I got=
sick. (I haven't even tried the Brahms Sonata again yet-- I know those le=
aps at the beginning would kill me right now!) Since I started back=2C I've=
noticed that I am biting the mouthpiece=2C hard enough to make my teeth ac=
he for hours afterward. There's a visible dent inside my lower lip=2C and =
my upper teeth feel like someone tried to pull them all out. (One of the "=
various health problems" was having my upper wisdom teeth pulled=2C and=2C =
yes=2C that is exactly what it feels like!) I can't find any leaks in the =
clarinet=2C and I don't think the reed is too hard--the tone sounds as good=
as it ever did. I am having problems getting my control back=2C especiall=
y when going from one register to another. I also have trouble with two no=
tes--clarion D (fourth line) and A (one ledger line). They both sound stuf=
fy=2C and sometimes don't sound immediately=2C especially after a wider int=
erval. If I play f-g-a-b=2C it plays ok (but=2C like I said=2C kind of stu=
ffy)=2C but if I play f-a=2C it might come out=2C and it might hesitate for=
a second. Same thing with the D=2C only it's more likely to squeak. I hav=
en't had problems with squeaks for years and years=2C and this is driving m=
e crazy!!!!! I have no idea if all these problems are related=2C if there'=
s something wrong with the clarinet=2C or if it's just because I'm so frust=
rated with the lack of control. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!=
!!
=20
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
=20
Angelia
=20
Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills.
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_spee=
d_122008=

------------------------------------------------------------------