Klarinet Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 2010/09

From: Richard D Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] breathing problems
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:38:29 -0400

Janice,

Whenever I meet with a new student, I always check out the instrument,
mouthpiece and reed set-up. I continue sampling their reed/mouthpiece
set-up at least once a month.

A player is likely to develop a 'bite' if the reed is too hard for the
mouthpiece. A player will play with too soft of an embouchure and too
little air pressure if the reed is way too soft. The teacher must be
responsible for maintaining a set-up that will work for the student
while doing the playing in a correct way.

Has your teacher ever tried your instrument, mouthpiece/reed set-up?
If not, I suggest your teacher isn't doing all that good teachers do.

I use Sterisol to disinfect the mouthpiece and reed before I play it
and before I return it to the student. Sterisol is specially
formulated for musical instrument use.

Additionally, I do work on my students' reeds, whether they play
clarinet, saxophone or bassoon. If their instrument has any problems,
I am also a repairman and do whatever is needed to help them succeed.
It is also important that the students' instruments play as well in
tune as they possibly can. If a student consistently hears a certain
pitch and that pitch is far from where it should be, the student will
come to accept its tuning and will become conditioned to the bad tuning.

Richard Bush,
Teaching privately for over 50 years
An instrument repairman since 1970
A prolific maker of bassoon reeds for 40 years

On Sep 3, 2010, at 6:57 AM, Janice Rosen wrote:

Hello,

I used to play the clarinet as a child and teenager and played every
day for long hours of practice and performed in my high school band.
I never had any problems with breathing or getting out of breath while
playing.

I stopped playing the clarinet for about 30 years (which I regret) in
order to focus on college, graduate school, and career.

Two years ago I started taking up clarinet and clarinet lessons as a
refresher to rebuild my skills and its been coming along nicely.

I am having a problem with breathing, though. I can't seem to play
the clarinet for more than 15 minutes without getting out of breath.
I do not have asthma. I never get out of breath when walking long
distances or singing. I can sing all day without getting out of
breath and can hold notes long and steady as well as professional
singers can. I never got out of breath when playing the clarinet all
day as a child or teenager.

So now why am I getting out of breath so easily with the clarinet? My
teacher says this is not normal and wants to help me find a way to
overcome the breathing problem. I use a number 3 reed which my
teacher says is just right for me.

If you have any suggestions, we would be grateful for the help.

Thank you.

Janice Rosen
Washington, DC

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