 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Venancio Rius-Marti
Date: 1999-04-02 16:48
I would like to know your ideas about the ideal placement-utilitation of the muscles for the embouchure.
I know that it is very difficult to say to what extent each individual muscle is involved. Thinking of it as "elastic band" (lips orbicular muscle), surrounding the mouthpiece and exerting equal pressure all round, this should help to develop the necessary control...
But, what muscles do you think that they should be more involved, or should have more direct activation in the embouchure? What kind of exercices do you beleive that
are appropiate to develop those muscles?
For example, to control the cheeks (which should be held firmly against the teeth) and to purse the corners of the lips to prevent air escaping from the sides of the mouth.
I hope that my not very good English (it's my thirt language) it has allowed me to expose with clarity the reason of my consultation.
It is always a pleasure for me to read all yours interesting comments in the BB.
Venancio
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-04-02 21:16
Hi Venancio - I remember seeing in a mid-1980's "The Clarinet" of the International Cl Society, an article which showed a drawing of facial muscles and had a learned discussion of that subject. Perhaps Mark C can help you find it, if I can locate it I'll post it here. Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-04-02 21:22
Don Berger wrote:
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Hi Venancio - I remember seeing in a mid-1980's "The Clarinet" of the International Cl Society, an article which showed a drawing of facial muscles and had a learned discussion of that subject. Perhaps Mark C can help you find it, if I can locate it I'll post it here. Don
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Don,
in the mid 80s I didn't know what a clarinet really was!
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Author: John
Date: 1999-04-03 01:02
Venancio--
The Larry Teal saxophone book has a (rather gruesome) series of drawings of the facial muscles.
Tom Ridenour has an excellent article on his website which emphasizes proper (high) tongue placement and jaw relaxation as an aid to embouchre development.
By the way, your English as a third language is better than many Americans' English as a first language!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-04-03 14:54
Hi again Venancio - As the early Greeks said "Eureka" [meaning I have found it], the article entitled "The Embouchure" By Heston L Wilson, MD was published in the February/March 1995 "The Clarinet" , International Clarinet Association pages 54&55 . I have a copy of it, and if it is not accessible via their web-site, Mark, assuming there is no copyright problem, I can fax it to you. It describes in detail the "Inside Smile" technique from a medical standpoint. Happy to help all [and myself]. Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-04-03 18:01
Don Berger wrote:
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I have a copy of it, and if it is not accessible via their web-site, Mark, assuming there is no copyright problem, I can fax it to you.
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The proper way would be to request a back issue (there <B>is</B> a copyright issue - the entire magazine is copyrighted!)
If in fact that issue is not available then they may grant Valencio permission to make one copy.
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 1999-04-03 21:11
A minor type of exercise that I am constantly using while driving is to assume I have my mouthpiece in and therefore form my embouchure by stretching the lower chin flat and taunt. Then with the thumb and 1st finger of one hand (the other is of course on the steering wheel) press against the smile corners and release a number of times. This seems to help keep my embouchure in shape if as I sometimes do, lay off for a few days. It may be more psychological than physical, but I think it helps.
Also, I would comment that your English is excellent!
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