Klarinet Archive - Posting 000053.txt from 2008/12

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] embouchure problems
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:04:45 -0500

Just from reading your post, it sounds an awful lot like severe reed
problems - either the wrong strength (too hard or too soft could cause most
of this) or badly balanced. Can anyone else you know play on your setup
without any problems? OTOH, if you had a lot of work done inside your mouth,
something about the way your teeth align could be different enough to need
some adjustment you're missing. It's really hard to tell from a verbal
description like the one you posted what's really wrong - it'd be a lot
easier for a competent player who can actually hear your problem firsthand
to help you sort it out.

Good luck, and a Merry Christmas to you, too.

Karl

-----Original Message-----
From: Angelia Fagg [mailto:arfagg@-----.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:15 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] embouchure problems

Dear list,

I'm hoping someone can help me with a very annoying problem with my
embouchure. I recently had to stop playing for several months because of
various health problems. When I could play again, I started out with scales
and long tones, then played through all my intermediate books and easier
pieces 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
leaps at the beginning would kill me right now!) Since I started back, I've
noticed that I am biting the mouthpiece, hard enough to make my teeth ache
for hours afterward. There's a visible dent inside my lower lip, 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, and, yes,
that is exactly what it feels like!) I can't find any leaks in the
clarinet, 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, especially when
going from one register to another. I also have trouble with two
notes--clarion D (fourth line) and A (one ledger line). They both sound
stuffy, and sometimes don't sound immediately, especially after a wider
interval. If I play f-g-a-b, it plays ok (but, like I said, kind of
stuffy), but if I play f-a, it might come out, and it might hesitate for a
second. Same thing with the D, only it's more likely to squeak. I haven't
had problems with squeaks for years and years, and this is driving me
crazy!!!!! I have no idea if all these problems are related, if there's
something wrong with the clarinet, or if it's just because I'm so frustrated
with the lack of control. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Angelia

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