 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tomz
Date: 2004-09-20 15:04
Thanks to everyone who offered their thoughts on finding a teacher. I hope to have one within the next few weeks.
I think I may be forming the embouchure incorrectly but I'm not sure. According to highly regarded sources, the lower lip should form the bottom half of a circle and the corners of the mouth should point upward.
The corners of my particular mouth point distincly south. There is no semblance of a smile, no dimples, just downward corners. I tried last night to follow David Pino's instructions to the letter and I got a cramp and no sound whatsoever.
Is it possible that the individual's mouth, cheek, and jaw architecture are the primary determinants of embouchure formation, that some people cannot pull the corners of the mouth in an upward direction?
It has also occurred to me that my method is simply improper technique and practice of the proper technique is the solution. I'm not sure.
Any experts on the beginner's embouchure out there?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-20 16:04
WAIT!!! 
Wait until you get with the teacher. Don't play the opinion guessing game. You will be getting instruction soon - don't even play it till then.
Strongly suggested.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-21 01:42
With due respect to David's suggestion that true love waits, I am guessing that Tom probably isn't going to wait. So (she said, prophylactically) with that in mind, Tom, you can do a search of this board, or of the Klarinet list, on "embouchure".
But to save you a lot of grief, just start with the technique detailed in this post quoted below. I copied this out for my husband when he was
(re)starting clarinet last spring, and it did the trick for him.
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From: "Ted Casher" <tedcasher@-----.net>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 20:22:26 -0500
Ted Casher here: Use a cushioned lower lip, O-shaped mouth and anchored top teeth---don't point the chin or smile. Wrap the lips around the mpce like a rubber band. This is the Eastman embouchure as taught by Bill Osseck. . .
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Just keep it relaxed, and let the air float through the horn, rather than pushing it. It will sound awful at first, but you'll get it -- probably about the time you find a teacher.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-21 01:54
Here's the rub - there are many different variations of the embouchure and pointing the chin is one thing that I among many others do.
Maybe your teacher will do it (probably), maybe not.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-21 02:23
Yeah, but . . .
. . . if you cushion the bottom teeth with your lower lip, anchor your top teeth on the tip of the mouthpiece, and then make the "O-shaped" (rubber-band) embouchure, your chin just naturally does the pointy thing. And you can still tighten the corners as necessary for focus.
At least, that's how it works for me. I learned the "smile" embouchure at the outset (lots and lots of years ago, in school, and with a double-lip), and then years later was told by another (private) teacher to point my chin (and to anchor the top teeth on the mpc -- no double lip) . What I ended up with was a tight, tight, tight death-grip embouchure that sounded awful.
It was a revelation to me to learn that a clarinet embouchure could (and I will say, should) be more round and relaxed. And my playing, which was always technically adept, became a pleasure for both me and others to hear.
SKK
Post Edited (2004-09-21 12:37)
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2004-09-22 19:26
What ohsuzan says seems to work for me...the rubber band approach. That's exactly how the sax embouchure is described, but the book, The Art of Clarinet Playing as well as The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing say that clarinet and sax emb are different. Is that just old thinking, because the wrapping around the mp like a rubber band does seem to give me a nice relaxed tone.
Leonard
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-09-23 06:56
If you are trying to play with no experience, and do not have a teacher, check you local music store for a video. In addition to embouchure and finger help, this may also help to prevent mishaps with assembly/disassembly.
My beginners use the Play Clarinet Today package, with book, accompaniment CD and instructional DVD all for around $20.00.
Also good is Warner Brothers "Ultimate Beginner" video series available for $9.95 on VHS and 19.95 on DVD.
Either of these should provide you some valuable guidance until you find a private instructor.
Allen Cole
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