 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-12-17 22:21
Hello
A couple months ago, I noticed that after playing for about 5 hours straight (District Honor Band), my embouchure would shake uncontrollably. Its been pretty good up until today,when I played for another couple hours, and it started to shake again. Is this muscle fatigue or a sign that my embouchure has weakened (finals week prevented my usual practicing for about a week prior to today)?? What excersizes would y'all recommend I do to help rebuild my embouchure. Long Tones?? Thanks!!!!!
Clayton
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Author: bass9396
Date: 2005-12-17 23:52
How much do you practice?
Anyone on this board can only go so long before fatigue sets up shop, but it hardly ever continues into the next day. If it does you may need to take a "break" of about two weeks. That doesn't mean you shouldn't play at all, but maybe you shouldn't beat your embouchure into submission everyday. My best friend plays Euphonium and he orginally validated my feelings on this saying that he always needed a few 2 week "breaks" a year, and he's got a performance degree!.....on a brass instrument. Talk about fatigue.
My thought is, your embouchure contains muscles (I know, duh) so unless you're taking embouchure performance enhancers(doesn't that sound silly?) then you can't avoid some fatigue every now and then.
Now, if you don't want a break I'd play long tones (Remington's Studies, simple major scales, etc.) and some really simple etudes in which you don't release your embouchure. Sometimes you have to show it the way becausee it gets lost at places like Honor Band and All-State where you don't warm-up as a group at all. Also, if your School Director doesn't warm-up the group very much you may want to consider asking for more warm-ups. I got all my stamina from High School Band and it still shocks my sectionmates in community band. We warmed up constantly!
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-12-18 03:39
I wouldn't suggest it during times of intense practice, but after all this District Honor Band stuff, you might consider doing some playing with double lip embouchure to make sure you're not tensing up any muscles in your face that you shouldn't be. It can be extremely tiring if you 'bite' or play with unnecessary embouchure pressure all the time.
I need to start pumping up my embouchure with long tones before I go to a couple honor bands this winter. I haven't been playing enough. Long tones are like clarinet push-ups; they strengthen and condition your muscles for endurance and power. All of this power doesn't need to always be utilized, but the stability that results from having the strength is quite invaluable to a clarinetist.
fwiw,
-Tyler
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-12-18 13:39
Of course you could always stay with the 'shake'. Look at the money Kenny G makes.
Bob A
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-12-18 13:50
Careful now, this thread'll get closed!
But in all honesty ClariBone, it does sound like you're overdoing it at the moment, 5 hours on the trot is too long, and like all muscle activity you should ease off when you're getting tired.
Maybe still practice for the 2+ hours a day, but break it down into 1/2 hour slots with a break in between each session otherwise you will knacker yourself and your bottom lip out.
And that applies to all practice on any instrument, no point in going on when you know you're tired - give yourself a rest from time to time, it won't do you any harm that way. Besides, you do need to rest to recover or calm down.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-12-18 15:02
You have to build up to it, or the muscles will be tired for quite some time.
Look at it like weight training.
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Author: froggy1
Date: 2005-12-19 11:14
Hi there,
In the last 2 years i have had enormous trouble with my embouchure, particurlarly due to the new aquisition of braces on my teeth. I have found that the embouchure problems change and vary particularly with the different positions of my teeth at the time; that is, if they change position quickly for any reason, then my embouchure is stuffed! this is among other factors: fatigue, injuries, ulsers.....
Have you had any mouth injuries, had bleeding gums or ulsers that could cause it? i find that when you play a lot your mouth can become very sensitive and any small problem like this can affect embouchure adversely.
cosnider reducing your practice time a bit and working back up to it, or lowering your reed size.
Good Luck!
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