The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Tammy H
Date: 2012-10-29 03:18
I always try avoiding looking at myself when I play the clarinet, but the other day I stood in front of the mirror and gave myself a long, hard examination.
Man, am I ugly when I play! How do clarinetists have such simple embouchures? It's like, all they do is prettily turn up the corners of their mouth, slip the mouthpiece in, and it stays the same! I on the other hand look like some sort of frog. Is it my embouchure you think? Or the fact I have braces? Oi!
Anyone else look hideous when they play?
Post Edited (2012-10-29 22:05)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: andrewcsq
Date: 2012-10-29 03:51
I pretty much look hideous whether or not I'm playing the clarinet, so the extra ugliness from playing makes at most a marginal difference for me...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2012-10-29 06:44
Other people usually see us differently than we see ourselves so not to worry.
Post Edited (2012-10-29 12:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Morrigan
Date: 2012-10-29 08:07
You've given yourself your answer. Form the embouchure, bring the clarinet to you, and retain the position and put air through the instrument. It's harder than it sounds to 'do nothing' when the clarinet is in your mouth, but you have to have control over yourself when playing, it's a big part of having control over the instrument and your sound. There's no secret or shortcut - just lots of concentration and practice!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-10-29 10:08
You DON'T turn UP the corners of your mouth !!!!!
If anything, they (the 'corners' that is) press in toward the orifice. Use your cheek muscles for this (kinda like trying to suck an extra thick milk shake through a straw).
You are looking at this all wrong !!! You want a beautiful EMBOUCHURE. All else is really fluff.
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paula S
Date: 2012-10-29 10:36
Just laughed my socks off! We need to get Angelina Jolie or George Clooney to help us out. Do you think either of them play clarinet? If they do why haven't we seen them play? Perhaps it makes them look ugly? . I think I look better with my flute embouchure than my clarinet embouchure!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-10-29 12:07
A friend is a flautist. She has always believed that her kids should participate in her own musical experience, and she was a bit puzzled when her twin boys, aged around 4, burst into fits of hysterical laughter whenever she picked up her flute to practice. This was new behaviour, they had never reacted so in the past. When she asked them what they were laughing at they told her very earnestly that when she played her mouth looked like a cats bum.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2012-10-29 15:15
Just remember that anybody who thinks, "Hoowaah, that clarinet-playing sure looks ugly," will immediately proceed to think, "Uh-oh, I wonder if I look ugly? I probably do..." and go on from there to obsess about his or her own appearance and forget all about you. That's the great secret of self-confidence: Nobody else has any, either, so we don't need to worry about it.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-11-06 18:49
I am PRETTY sure that Julia Roberts plays the clarinet. I try not to look at myself in the mirror when i play. Also, only sideview portraits are allowed. I also look much better playing the flute.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MichaelW
Date: 2012-11-06 20:00
I love this forum. Well- mannered, patient and friendly replies of experts to beginners’ questions, sophisticated musical and technical contributions, and now this: I almost could’stop giggling. M.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paula S
Date: 2012-11-06 20:37
If Julia Roberts plays the clarinet she might have to be called 'Ugly Woman' rather than 'Pretty Woman'
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paula S
Date: 2012-11-06 20:40
Luvtheclarinet, do you play the piccolo? I look like I am sucking a boiled sweet when I am playing it. LOL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|