 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Jan
Date: 2005-04-16 13:52
I have an Exam coming up, and also a VERY sore, blistered lip. I can't stop practicing for a week until it heals. I have used lip-balm, but my lip is not healing. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2005-04-16 14:54
You've got to let it heal. However what you can do is practice fingering without actually blowing notes.
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Author: Musical lottie
Date: 2005-04-16 19:52
Hm, has this blistering happened before? And is it many tiny, little blisters, or a few large ones? I'm just asking because it may be possible that you're allergic to reeds ... my teacher and myself are, and I've sort of made it my mission to try and let people know that there may be a reason for being in agony after playing lol!
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Author: Jan
Date: 2005-04-16 20:04
Thanx for the replies. No, it started as just one blister which broke. Now it just won't heal although I have cut back on my practice times. If it is caused by an allergy, is there any solution? I have tried playing with plactic reeds and they are like playing with a Paddle-pop stick.
Dee's comment to practice the fingerings without blowing is a good one which would allow my lip some time to heal.
Thanx so much.
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Author: Ryan
Date: 2005-04-17 04:03
Hey,
just a story that I heard. A clicincian i met told me not to use lip balm whenever I play, because it cort of freezes your mouth, giving less control over what you are playing.
-Ryan
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Author: Jan
Date: 2005-04-17 10:57
Thanx Ryan, I guess I'll just have to do fingering practice only until my lip heals. I have also heard that lip-balm messes with your reed making it unplayable.
Jan.
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Author: Musical lottie
Date: 2005-04-17 13:07
Yes lip-balm can gunk up the reed, but only generally on the side that touches your lip. In my experience it's still been fine to play.
Allergy - plastic reeds are useless, yes. However the synthetic reeds that my teacher uses (and indeed I use them for bass clarinet) are Fibracell. They are made out of plastic, howeve the structure of the reed is the same as cane. The reed has then the same properties as cane - it has the same density, and will vibrate in the same way. What it won't do is absorb anywhere near as much water as cane reeds, so will last longer and shouldn't warp (only very rarely will they warp.) Another helpful thing about them is that they don't need warming up - they'll naturally warm up in the first few minutes of playing. They have as good a sound as cane reeds (if not better) and the best thing of all is that they won't make you lips balloon up!!
However Jan, it doesn't sound as if you are allergic to reeds. You may be, but if it was just the one blister then chances are it was just due to the amount of playing - in any case, Dee's advice was probably the best you'll get for now!
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Author: Musical lottie
Date: 2005-04-17 13:09
O yes, I forgot to mention - Vaseline is probably better than lip-balm for helping to heal you lip, and is probably far cheaper too! (And in the short term it can be used as emergency cork grease!)
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Author: Hannalee
Date: 2005-04-17 16:21
OH NO please dont try to say to use vaseline as cork grease. people always try that and here's why it doesnt work-
vaseline seeps into the cork and will make it release from the clarinet and if it is put together at the time you will be unable to take your clarinet apart. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS.
people try this on every instrument posible and everytime it causes more harm than it is worth.
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Author: Musical lottie
Date: 2005-04-18 21:04
Hence I said for emergencies ... certainly not to be used if avoidable. But if it really is an emergency ...
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