 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-03-17 15:51
When winter comes (and sometimes even in summer) my lower lip becomes so chapped that it's usually peeling and bleeding unless I put some kind of balm on it several times a day. The fact that my upper lip is totally exempt from this condition makes me think that my clarinet is responsible. Does anyone else have this problem or some kind of explanation?
I'm sure that my 8 hour musical rehearsal yesterday helped a lot, too. It's high school musical season and I'm playing a lot.
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Author: SWTClarinet
Date: 2002-03-17 17:03
Not that I'm an expert, but I don't feel that the horn is to blame. I think there are several factors affecting your lower lip that cause it to dry/crack so much. First off, it's pressed against the reed which itself gets dry due to the air rushing to it (as well as because of climate conditions). If the reed is drying up because of this, it's safe to suggest at least that your lip is too. This of course doesn't affect the upper lip because the comparable area isn't exposed to this air flow. Also, your lower lip is press against your teeth, causing friction and a chance to form grooves and cuts in your lip. I know this sounds weird but it's possible, I do it all the time from trying to use minimal lower lip in my embouchure.
The only thing I can suggest is to get something like D.C.T., Carmex, Blistex or whatever to keep moisture on that lower lip and help it heal. Oh and if you ever get the makings of a blister, try Orajel, it numbs the area for a while, but if you have time to heal, it can get rid of a blister in a day or two!
My two hundredths of a dollar's worth,
Joey
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Author: Bob T
Date: 2002-03-17 17:52
It may be that (even without a clarinet in your mouth)you are an habitual mouth-breather. Constantly breathing through your mouth will dry out your lips - your lower one especially. If you can breath through your nose for general purposes (like living etc) try to train yourself steadily to change to being a nose-breather. If you just can't breathe through your nose - (constantly blocked)- then a simple preparation like Vaseline (petroleum jelly) will help keep the lips moisturised. Beware of playing with pj on your lips - it will make positioning on the mouthpiece dodgy and will also deposit a jelly compound around the reed, leading to all sorts of technical problems. NB Check first however that you don't have a sensitivity to petroleum jelly.
RT
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Author: William
Date: 2002-03-18 14:43
I have a small glass container of pure vitamine E that I bought at our local drug shoppe that seems to work very well in moistening the lips and soothing cold sores when they become a problem. Just a suggestion.......Good Clarineting
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