 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: FluteClarinet55
Date: 2013-06-29 04:17
I know this is a problem that is probably due to being a beginner without much experience, but since I've started, I have had air escaping (especially when trying to play higher notes) towards my bottom lip. Any advice you can give would be helpful. In case it may help, I'm learning clarinet as a double, flute is my main instrument. Thanks in advance.
Post Edited (2013-06-29 04:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sonicbang
Date: 2013-06-29 09:14
You should take some rest after every 10-20 minutes. Use a mirror while playing long tones and scales and watch out for your mouth corners. You can also try a tad softer reeds in the first few months arond strength 2. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ninoclarinet
Date: 2013-06-29 09:19
The air is most likely running out from the corners of you lips, which is controlled by the muscles surrounding that area. Lack of stamina and unawakened feel of control over your face muscles is the most likely cause. Try, while practicing/playing, to push corners of your mouth down but doing that don't compensate and go up with your chin. The general feeling would be as doing sad face expression :( (but just a feeling, don't sit in front of the mirror and look for visual context )
Since this is muscle training don't expect any results day after. Try and hope it will help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2013-06-29 11:35
Some players draw the corners of the mouth tightly apart, as if doing a broad smile.
This may lip tension may help for thinning the lip that will cover the front, lower teeth, before the mouthpiece is placed on that lip cushion, but after the mouthpiece is in position on the lower lip, IMO opinion there is no longer any need at all to for drawing the corners of the mouth apart. And the result of doing so is often the sound of air leaking where the lips are not sealing around the sides of the mouthpiece/reed.. An accomplished local player did this, so wrecked his chances of any recording work with a close microphone.
But I am but an analytical amateur.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-06-29 19:11
I would say that the corners of your mouth need to "COME IN." You do this by engaging your cheek muscles (buccinators..... look that up on the web).
If you've ever tried to get a thick chocolate shake through a straw, it is the same feeling, only you are blowing outward of course.
Also, don't forget to use your upper lip muscles as well (they push downward onto the mouthpiece).
All in all you are surrounding the mouthpiece with musculature like a rubber band wrapped around the mouthpiece.
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: FluteClarinet55
Date: 2013-07-01 17:49
Thanks for the advice! It's happening slightly less the more I play, but I think I'll try your suggestions.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2013-07-01 19:26
It is air leaking from the corners of your mouth. Try practicing double-lip and see if that helps. Back in my college days, our best school clarinetist had that problem and never did find a way to correct it. Although he played flawlessly, the hiss was always distracting to me. BTW, he earned a DMA and went on to teach at clarinet at the college level, although he tended in later years to concentrate more on jazz tenor sax and less of "serious" clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
