 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fermata
Date: 2003-02-17 18:58
Does anyone have suggestions on how to keep my lips from getting so sore when I practice a several hours at a time. Is there anything I can do to keep from putting so much pressure on my lower lip?
and...
Is there any technic that can help me tongue faster without losing the quality of the sound I am making.
and...
Sometimes I have trouble hitting higher notes when I am doing them staccato..anyway to help that?
Thanks in advance! =)
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-02-17 19:15
Well, I can answer your last question (about the high staccato notes) from experience: AIR!! :-) Just because the notes are detached doesn't mean your air gets detached, too. Also, the position of the tongue in the back affects the high notes more drastically than the low notes, so make sure you're keeping it consistent. Too low, and the note might not come out or you might end up scooping up to it.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-02-17 20:03
1st question: Your lip will toughen up as you continue to play. There's no way to prevent soreness until this happens. Pain is gain.
2nd question: Practice by starting slow notes and gradually getting faster until you gradually gain speed. Stop at the point where the tone stops sounding good and go back and repeat up to that point again and again and then go beyond. Do this every day for about 15 to 20 min. during your regular practice session and you'll be amazed in one month at how much you have improved. You might try using a tape recorder so you can actually hear the improvement.
3rd question: Your embouchure is probably causing you the problem. As you work on the faster tones (question 2), you'll also probably find that your embouchure is improved. When you're in the upper registers your embouchure should remain constant. Have your teacher watch you play these upper notes and see what he/she says about this. If you are having another problem, your teacher will know what to tell you.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-02-17 20:37
Maybe the answer to your question lies in the line "when I practice a several hours at a time". Multiple shorter sessions will benefit you more.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-02-17 21:03
More air support and less pressure on the reed itself will enable you to play longer. You may be "pinching" a bit trying to keep the notes in tune. Good air support will let you be in tune without pinching.
As far as fast tonguing and staccato go, make sure that only your tongue moves. Many people are moving their jaw when they tongue without realing it and that slows down tonguing and often leaves much to be desired in the sound quality on staccato. Jaw movement is very common and causes a lot of problems.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-02-18 12:48
Larry Guy has a terrific text available for Embouchure training.
It addresses many of these problems (I suppose we all have them).
Fatigue is possible with all muscles, including the tongue.
Perhaps you could attempt the 'One click each day' adjustment on your metronome, to go progressively faster?
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Author: Amanda Rupp
Date: 2003-02-18 13:16
I use cut up denture pads on my lower teeth for extended rehearsals (up to 3 hours) at the university. They seem to be working well, but I just started on the advice of the graduate student in our studio. So we'll see.
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2003-02-18 23:39
Amanda has a good idea there. I was about to say that one of my friends at my school uses a folded up piece of paper on his bottom teeth. I have a problem of chewing up my bottom lip when I play, always have... through... the 10 years I have been playing. So I use paper once in a while, but it soaks up saliva too quickly and sometimes starts falling apart. *Yuck* My old teacher (the Principal clarintetist of the Navy Band in DC, he's awesome!) actually uses sport's mouthguards. He cuts off a little piece of it, and boils it in water to flatten and form it to his bottom teeth. That works well too, but I can never get it flat enough for me. Some people say dental wax works, but I would think that would split after a while. Who nose.
Good luck with that. hehe
--Contragirl
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Author: Heidi
Date: 2003-02-19 01:11
Along the same lines....I use masking tape. It works really well, it doesn't fall apart after only one day (actually it works for about a month on constant playing), and it's thin. Just find a short piece, fold the sticky part on itself and enjoy! It even forms to your teeth!:)
Good luck!
Heidi
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-02-19 02:55
Re contragirl's advice, a folded up piece of paper works great - if it's cigarette paper. Cigarette paper does not disintegrate in saliva. Cut off the part with the glue, fold into a third and then fold in half again before fitting over your bottom teeth.
There was a thread on this board a couple of days ago; most of the posts dealt with using cigarette paper to blot holes and such, but you'll also read about using it to avoid damage to your lower lip, especially during long or frequent practise sessions.
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Author: Jenny
Date: 2003-02-19 12:26
I had my dentist make a mold of my bottom teeth (like they do for bleaching cups, etc.). Then he used the same material that they use in the clear braces. One was a rigid clear plastic (not my favorite), and the other was a softer plastic (the right one). I trimmed it the width that would cover my 4-6 bottom teeth. I've been playing again for a little over two years, to finish a degree after 27 years of not playing at all. This little piece of plastic has been a lifesaver. Other clarinetists always want to know what it is and where I got it (sounds like a merchandising opportunity). The best part is, since I presented my dentist with the challenge, he provided me with the "teeth covers" at no charge, and even gave me a "denture case", to store them in. Little did he know that I would have gladly paid for them!
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2003-02-19 19:47
Duct tape fixes anything!
Duct tapes is good for everything... except sealing ducts. lol
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Author: Annie
Date: 2003-02-20 00:47
I use a denture (sp?) wax called Eezo. You can get it at most drug stores and it comes with about 10 if the denture pads (is that what they are called?!) in a pack. Then you can cut those up to pit over your front teeth. One lasts about a week, depending on how much you play of course. So the $5 package lasts many months. Hope this helps! That reminds me, I have to go pick up some more! Hehe!
-Annie
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