The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2003-01-22 13:05
reading a post below about teeth marks on mouthpieces made me think of a question - i produce off center teeth marks. ive often tried to correct it, but it feels unnatural and more natural to play with the mouthpiece a bit to one side. is this bad? do i need to try and correct it even if it feels weird at first? also, i have severe TMJ dysfunction - could this be why?
JL
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-22 13:36
Maybe playing off-center has caused the TMJ?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-01-22 13:37
Perhaps a visit to your dentist would answer your question about the TMJ. However, it is more likely that your jaw isn't aligned perfectly and that's why you're favoring the "off center" position on your mouthpiece. I don't know how long you've been playing, but if you're a beginner or intermediate player you should let your clarinet teacher take a closer look at your embouchure and do some corrections now rather than when you have played for a while and it is more difficult. If the problem with your jaw is your embouchure, it's easier to fix the embouchure than the jaw.
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Author: clarynet
Date: 2003-01-22 15:11
JL-
I go with Brenda on this one. TMJ is more likely to be cause by something other than the clarinet....As one develops tendenitis, etc....just the make up of one's body {unless you grind your teeth }. I've had off centered tooth marks forever, and I'm OK. Everyone's mouth conforms differently to a mouthpiece (my reason being one tooth sticks out about a millimeter farther than the other). Do what's more comfortable for you! Good luck!
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Author: Kat
Date: 2003-01-22 16:26
Not only do I have "off-center" toothmark(s)...due to a chip in one tooth, I only have ONE toothmark! LOL!
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Author: Azclar
Date: 2003-01-22 17:50
I played off to the the side if my mouth for a long time, and my teacher thought that it was ok because my jaw was crooked and because my teath aren't quite straight. When I switched teachers, he had me move the clarinet to the center. At first it was strange, but my tone improved, and I had less jaw pain than before. (I had TMJ problems too) I would say go with the directions of a good teacher, but you may want to play with it.
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Author: Laura
Date: 2003-01-22 20:58
Everybody's mouth and jaw are formed differently, so where you are on the mouthpiece is different for everyone.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-22 21:58
Nobody plays perfectly in the centre. I would be concerned more about how hard you are biting. Too much embouchure and not enough air by the sound of it.
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