 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Trevor M
Date: 2011-10-26 23:56
I ended up taking a couple years off from the clarinet, having previously reached a pretty advanced point (majored in it in college, lots of non-pro orchestra experience, etc etc). The break has had an unexpected benefit, one I've heard sports coaches say about the 'off season'- time off gives you time to forget some bad habits and a fresh chance to learn some good ones.
One bad habit I always had is that I tend to let air escape at the corners of my mouth, especially toward the end of long phrases. They probably can't hear it out in the hall, but I know it's an inefficient use of wind and detrimental overall. I don't know if it's my face anatomy that causes me to do it... my tone is good and my embouchure is otherwise fairly orthodox. Does anybody have any specific exercises to approach this problem?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-10-27 00:07
I too had a fair amount of air leaking in college and let it go because there were all sorts of stories of players of repute with air.
What I found was that I was kinda narrowly fixated on the mouth 'corners.' It helped me to no end to start just thinking of using the cheek muscles (you know, the ones you would engage trying to get a thick milk shake through a straw). As you engage these muscles more and more, the mouth just naturally takes on a very spherical shape, closing in on the mouthpiece much more efficiently. Of course, DON'T forget about the upper lip muscles as well !!
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-10-27 07:46
Try usin a double lip, not all of the time unless you wish to. Try it for a bit while playing scales and it should go away rather fast. I'd say about 10 minutes a day, until the problem naturally goes away.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-10-27 12:09
Quote:
What I found was that I was kinda narrowly fixated on the mouth 'corners.' It helped me to no end to start just thinking of using the cheek muscles (you know, the ones you would engage trying to get a thick milk shake through a straw). As you engage these muscles more and more, the mouth just naturally takes on a very spherical shape, closing in on the mouthpiece much more efficiently. Of course, DON'T forget about the upper lip muscles as well !! In true forum reply . . . +1 !!!
Interesting as this is exactly how I think of it too (including the thick milkshake! WEIRD!!!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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