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Re: Double Lip Embouchure - Upper Lip Pain

Author: Ron
Date: 2010-08-14 10:09

I played double lip as a kid and then started to play single lip in my 30's. I would strongly suggest that you get a different mouthpiece with a medium facing and use softer reeds to develop the muscles in the emboucure for your double lip playing.

You need to be patient and don't rush the transition. The idea of putting a piece of an index card over your top teeth will definitely help. Also, when you feel that your chops are tiring and you are not ready to take a break, you can rest the bell of the clarinet on your lap. This will ease up the stress on the upper lip. Better, however, is to take a break and don't over due it.

When you are finished practicing and you feel your upper lip is very sore, take a washcloth and wet it with very warm water (not hot water as you don't want to burn yourself) and put the washcloth on your closed mouth to bring blood to your lip muscles. This is a soothing practice that Gino Cioffi used and taught to his students one of which was me. Mr. Cioffi played double lip.

Playing double lip requires great patience to build up the muscles in the your embourcure. It may take several months to build up your muscles so you have the endurance needed for practicing and solid performing.

The M13Lyre is a great mouthpiece but was designed to use harder reeds than the ones required to develop double lip. I have an M13Lyre and would not play double lip with it.

You may want to try a Vandoren 5RV or any other reputable mouthpiece with a medium facing. I would not go harder than a VD Blue Box 3.0 and would probably start with a 2.5 and then work up to a 3.0.

Ron

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