 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SomethingCopland
Date: 2004-03-04 20:13
Hello Everyone,
Just recently I've had a major bout with back pressure while playing. Air will seep out through my nose and create a most annoying sound. My teacher and friend say that tongue position is the key factor and not playing hard reeds. I have been playing hard reeds lately and I'm wondering, is there indeed a limit to how much resistance(reeds and mpc combined) that a person can deal with before experiencing back pressure problems and extraneous leaking? Before now, I didn't really consider the physiological effects of too much air pressure or that the mpc was the key factor in resistance besides the reed. Is the mpc a key factor and is it not just me?
Thanks all!
Stanley, Sydney, Russ, Michelle, David, Deborah, Chuck, Jon, Ricardo, Marc, Sabine, Elsa, Laura, John, Larry, Robert, Paul---They all know Copland.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-03-04 22:05
Sssshyah!
I think you got the idea, binky.
Why would you want to work so hard, anyway?
Medium facings with medium strength reeds will allow for some tonal flexibilty, too...
*******
-OR-
You could learn to control the pitch of wind leaking out each ear, sort of a Tuvan glottal-stop kind of thing...
I wish it was only my nose making annoying noises, while playing...
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-05 01:37
Mpc is a very important aspect of how much back-pressure you're going to get. The barrel is also a factor, but a different barrel wouldn't make as much difference as a different mouthpiece. Mind letting us know what mouthpiece and size reed you use?
Also, do you find yourself really biting hard? Sometimes I feel that if you just relax your embouchure and let the airstream do the work for you everything seems to blow much easier and sound a lot nicer (even those altissimo notes that I once had to pinch and pinch the reed hoping that they eeked out).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sdr
Date: 2004-03-05 02:43
I think this query confuses "back pressure" with "resistance." Seems to me that mouthpiece/reed are major factors in "resistance" but this is different from back pressure. Anyone who has ever played a didgeridoo is familiar with back pressure -- it is a sort of firm resilience that the player can feel pushing back at them as they drive their air into the instrument. It is presumably an effect of setting up a standing wave within the air column in the horn and is a good indicator that the player is achieving proper support and air flow. I recently upgraded from a Vito V40 to a Buffet Greenline R13 and was struck by the rather dramatic feel of back pressure in my clarinet. It is nowhere near as big a sensation as in the didg, but is clearly palpable. It gives the feeling that the entire horn is pressurized and ringing. I love it.
-sdr
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2004-03-05 03:12
SomethingCopeland--
Have you been playing for unusally long periods of time lately? Check out this link to a medical article that I found when I was looking up physical problems that happen with musicians. The article mentions air escaping through the nose in a section called "otolaryngolotic disorders". It also says that rest and exercises of the palate (I do not know what type) were helpful. If this sounds like what is going on you might see your doctor.
Good luck!
Oops--here's the article--
http://www.boomspeed.com/joseph2/index25.htm
Post Edited (2004-03-05 03:14)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-03-05 03:36
One thing for sure, it is nothing to do with the tongue. If it were the tongue that was responsible for blocking the passage from the lungs to the nose, then it would at the same time, block the air going to the mouth, and you could not play.
I don't know what it is - soft palate? - but there must be an independent agent that blocks the nose cavity at the back of the throat.
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Author: SomethingCopland
Date: 2004-03-05 12:46
Just to help you help me
Oh yes, and thank you so much for the wonderful advice and knowledgeable guidance!
I play a Ridenour mpc and I'm not sure if it is any specific kind. I also play silver box 4's, and I'm very much considering moving back to 3 1/2's
Thanks All!
Stanley, Sydney, Russ, Michelle, David, Deborah, Chuck, Jon, Ricardo, Marc, Sabine, Elsa, Laura, John, Larry, Robert, Paul---They all know Copland.
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