 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2005-01-13 15:09
A teacher has observed that I play with the mouthpiece somewhat off center. He suggested that I build the habit of playing on center (by centering the front teeth), checking periodically in a mirror as I practice. I found that the symmetrical position felt unnatural somehow, but have been trying to be more conscienscious about it in order to give it a fair try.
I had also noticed that my mouthpiece patch (the thick type) tends to creep gradually towards the side opposite the mouthpiece offset - there is a shear force in my tooth-grip which pulls in that direction.
After studying the situation I came to realize that one front incisor is longer than the other by a slight amount, maybe 1/2 mm. So I rotated the mouthpiece about 10 deg., to where it felt as though there were no sideways forces. That 10 deg. is a greater angle than my tooth-difference, but seems to provide a point of equilibrium.
None of these adjustments has made it much more difficult (or easier) to play, and I can relax more readily with that sense of equilibrium. However I don't want to become habituated to a radical position which will constrain my development. Of course the teacher and I will revisit this subject, but I am interested to know what this group can offer in the way of experience.
thanks
John Morton
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-01-13 16:21
In theory, the embouchure should be symmetrical. However, if your teeth are different lengths, and you don't want to have a dentist take the longer one down, then you'll simply have to adjust. Steve Girko, who's a great player, has crooked teeth and rotates his mouthpiece at least 15 degrees to the side.
The important part is to set your embouchure one way and not to vary it. See Mark Nuccio's comments in http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=101441&t=101441.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-13 16:29
The way I've counteracted my chip in my tooth is by putting a thick runyun pad on the clarinet. My right top tooth has a sharp chip in it which is slightly lower than the left. You can see in the runyon pad that there is a hole gauged out of the pad (only slightly down the pad, not all the way to the mouthpiece) where my chipped tooth hit most of the time when I play.
Now it's purpose seems to be two-fold. the cushion allowes for any slight unevenness of my teeth not to force me to adjust the mouthpiece any which way (I guess much like shocks on a car take away the 'bumps' in the road), and the hole that my chip sinks into makes sure that I have the same amount of mouthpiece in my mouth every time.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-01-13 17:53
when i first went to study in the US in 1994 i was experimenting with using a mouthpiece patch that one side built up (the inverse of what Alexi describes) to counteract uneven front teeth (teenage brawling!).
at the time it was suggested to me that it was not needed- that i would somehow "naturally" acommodate the off centre angle etc and that things would work just fine.
to some extent they did- i have had over the years some success playing the clarinet. At the same time i always had questions as to whether this affected my 1)reed life 2) embochure 3) finger acuracy
last year i paid $65 nz$ to have my front teeth leveled out (a bit less than $50 us$) and since then have noticed the following improvements....
- i had "unconciously" developed the habit of pushing more on one tooth than the other when making the "initial attack", particuarly in slow mvts etc With even teeth this habit has almost gone (another month of practise should finish it off) making the embochure feel very stable and allowing me greater ease in attack, particuarly in the altissimo.
- i am experiencing greater technical ease due to the improved stability, in particular where my right hand fingers are concerned. My Osteopath is helping correct long time posture problems, some of them related to my right arm formerly being "out of alignment" (holding clarinet off to one side to acommodate uneven teeth)
- as far as i can tell reeds are playing better and longer (although, ask me again in another 12 months....). Apart from anything else, they previously had to deal with more embochure pressure on one side than the other.
i guess even in the long run it will be impossible to "scientifically prove" that this 45 minutes at the dentist (and only $65! much cheaper than i had imagined!) has had any impact on my playing. But right now, i'm pretty convinced, and wish i'd looked into it years ago!
donald
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2005-01-13 18:38
Thank y'all for some helpful comments. Yes, I am very concerned about maintaining a constant set in my embouchure - that's why I want to come to a decision as soon as possible.
Compensating the patch is a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. But having my tooth ground ... upon reflection it makes the most sense. I guess there's just a twinge of queasiness about doing body modification for the sake of the clarinet, but at least it's not likely to compromise brain function or my immune system!
Now I just have to wonder whether the dentist knows how to equalize the teeth. I picture her taking a little from the left, a little from the right, a little more from the left, etc. etc.
John
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-13 20:51
Ever wonder why that famous soprano sax guy plays from the side of his mouth? If I had a problem like you describe I'd consult with an orthodondist first before making any changes...Teeth can be fixed but jaws are tougher to repair
Bob Draznik
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Author: Neil
Date: 2005-01-13 23:27
I learned to play with the lower half of one front tooth chipped off; I don't recall it causing any problems. About 10 years later I broke the other one off and had both rebuilt to full size. The repair was pretty simple, the dentist used a bondo-like substance that hardened and is still holding after 25 years. Didn't even have to wait for Christmas.
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-01-14 00:27
My gut reaction is that any issues in tone production and articulation are NOT directly associated with your teeth being uneven OR playing to the side. Eddie Daniels, for example, plays off-center and is an absolutely wonderful musician and clarinet player. I say this generically, not knowing you specific details (nor am I an expert to know what I was looking at if I could).
Aside from the above, I can tell you from my personal research (yes...a hobby and interest of mine), balance and symmetry in any and all aspects of your face lends to beauty. :-) When I get my old site back up (I'm working on it), you can see the research for yourself at www.abeautifulface.com. It's not up yet but that is where it will be. ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
Maybe you'd like to get your teeth adjusted simply because you want to. But I would not assume that this kind of intrusive dental work will fix any clarinet playing issues. ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
A side note to someone else's post, I too have chipped my front tooth and it just eats up those mouthpiece protectors. I will try to get my tooth fixed and have the Army do it since it is my job.
Take care,
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-01-14 08:52
I would have thought the most obvious problem with an off centre embouchure might be air leaking. Otherwise, it is difficult immediately to see what problem it causes given the unevenness of your teeth.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-01-14 09:35
After going through the enormous expense of getting 28 severely worn-down teeth rebuilt, the very thought of deliberately shortening them gives me the sqeeby-jeebys! :-)
If you are worried about slightly un-level teeth in clarinet playing, then take a look at the asymmetry of these accomplished flute players' embouchures!
http://www.larrykrantz.com/embpic.htm
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-14 11:37
""but jaws are tougher to repair"
Do you mean over/underbites?"
No. What I'm inferring is that anything that interferes with the correct movement of ones jaws can cause jaw problems, the correction of which can be more expensive than a problem with a tooth. I myself have an overbite but I can't blame it for my playing deficiencies.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-01-14 16:28
I have one front tooth that is a bit longer than the other, thus my embouchure has never been perfectly "on center."
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Author: Tom J.
Date: 2005-01-14 19:35
Hey, Kenny G. almost plays out of his right ear and the bucks keep rolling in.
But, then, there's that sound he gets. . . . .
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