 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClarinetBeginner
Date: 2010-04-20 04:53
I just got braces a few months ago and for the past few weeks, I've been noticing that air is leaking from the sides of my embrouchure. I'm guessing this is because of the extra stuff in the front.
Is there some technique to prevent this or is this something I'm going to be able to stop over time?
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Author: Paul Miller
Date: 2010-04-20 05:13
Braces are rough. I have a couple of ideas for you.
1. Bring the clarinet closer to your body as you play. This changes the angle of interface between the mouthpiece and embouchure and allows you to seal around the mouthpiece more easily.
2. Take a wine cork. Cut it lengthwise down the middle, then sand about a third of an inch off of each side. Place the corks in your cheeks so they're vertical to the ground. Then do long tones for about 20 minutes. Do this once a day, 4 days a week, for about a month. It'll be uncomfortable at first, but what you'll wind up doing is building more strength and flexibility in your embouchure - you'll find that you seal around the mouthpiece with less effort, and it'll take care of the hissing problem you're currently experiencing.
3. Another approach. Instead of biting down on the mouthpiece and reed, use Tom Ridenour's "snugging" method to control the reed. He explains it in his double lip embouchure videos, and it's easily adaptable to single lip.
4. Are your front teeth even? If they're offset, you may have to adjust the rotation of your mouthpiece to compensate.
Post Edited (2010-04-20 05:15)
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2010-04-20 13:00
Doesn't sound like invisalign is an option if the braces are already in place. I played wearing braces in the era when every tooth was wrapped in a metal band. Once I got beyond the hamburger lip stage, I was able to gradually strengthen my embouchure and solve the hiss problem. Paul has some good suggestions. If all else fails, soak the cork in wine before you use it. ;^)
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