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Anchored Behind The Teeth

Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2004-02-05 20:26

Hi,

I'm reading Stein's book on embouchure, p. 13. He mentions the following (in quotes below) while holding the mpc in the hand and also with it on the clarinet.

"When the lip support is correct, one feels that the reed lays vertically against the faced-out red of the lower lip as though the entire support might take place outside the mouth. 'Snug up' the mouthpiece securely with the hand holding [the mpc] until it is anchored firmly behind the upper front teeth."

Further down: "With the mouthpiece firmly into the cushion of the lips and anchored behind the upper teeth, apply a blowing pressure against the reed."

My question is: what does anchored behind the teeth mean? I know it sounds like a stupid question. But, is he teaching double lip embouchure // and with the front teeth not pressing down upon the mpc but rather the mpc resting upward (?) behind the front teeth while the upper lip forms the cushion for the mpc?

I did check some past posts but didn't see anything on the anchored behind the front teeth idea. That's not to say there aren't any past posts dealing with this. I just didn't find any as of yet. -- Honest, I'm checking the past posts first! [happy]

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Re: Anchored Behind The Teeth

Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2004-02-05 21:06

Never mind ... He says: "A valuable practice is to keep the mouthpiece anchored behind the upper teeth (or upper lip in double-lip embouchure) while breath is taken." He's not primarily refering to double-lip embouchure.

Answered my own question with more careful reading [rotate]

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Re: Anchored Behind The Teeth

Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-02-06 16:04

The term should be the mouthpiece should feel snug rather than pressed..

.the term "apply pressure" is also an unfortunate term ...might confuse younger players...

keep in mind that no two players has the exact set of teeth..some have overbites...others underbite....so position of the mouthpiece here must be taken with a grain of salt(sic mea culpa)

David Dow

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Re: Anchored Behind The Teeth

Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2004-02-06 17:57

Rev. --

As you will note from continued reading of Stein's book, he has a lot more to say about embouchure in later chapters.

BTW, the term "anchoring" (I believe Ridenour says "snugging") only makes sense for those players who hold the clarinet at a fairly small angle (30 degrees or less) to the body.

The concept does not work so well for those players who hold the clarinet at say a 45 degree angle, nor to those players who have a pronounced underbite. Such players might want to look into use of the various mpce patches (Runyon, Bay etc.) available on the market, which can help to keep the mpce stable without excessive pressure.

The book has some rather good profile photos of Stein with a clarinet in his mouth which illustrate what he is talking about here.

I still love that book (despite its problems) because in 1964 it really got me going on alternating double lip with single lip playing.

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