 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-04-27 00:02
Hey, everybody! I have been working on getting my embouchure set and set right once and for all so I can focus on consistency. I have been working on flattening the chin while maintaining an "eeh" voicing, and one of the few little problems I'm still having is deciding what to do with the corners of my mouth. I have been leaking air like CRAZY, and I don't know whether I should think of the corners going UP as in a smile, BACK as if stretching out my lower lip, or IN while thinking of completely sealing off the mouthpiece. I know that sealing is the function of doing something with the corners, but doing WHAT? Please help! I have read and/or heard each of these methods as being correct, but I don't think they are all equally effective.
What are your opinions?
Thanks
T
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2005-04-27 01:21
Tyler,
Good embouchure should come naturally. Don't think too much about it. Everyone's face and mouth are different, so there really are no hard and fast rules. For example, my lower teeth protrude past my upper, so I tend to hold the clarinet higher than others. It works for me.
If you are leaking air out the sides of your mouth, your reed may be too strong.
I would suggest trying to play double lip for a while. Your upper lip goes between the mouthpiece and your teeth. Your mouth will form more of an O, and equal pressure all around should help stop the leaking of air.
Mike Blinn
Middletown Symphonic Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-04-27 01:41
Hey Tyler! This is Carrie! Let me listen to you this Friday with all of your different embouchures. Maybe we can work something out! (Without effecting your solo of course!) Maybe you should get a softer reed... hard reeds make my mouth tired. I'll give you one of my reeds Friday and we can test them out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-04-27 15:09
Tyler -
The place to start is with the least movement -- with everything exactly where it is when your face is relaxed. Stand in front of a mirror, make an embouchure with the clarinet, and watch what happens when you relax. Keeping everything in the same place is not easy, but I've found that it helps.
You definitely should not move the corners of your mouth back or up. If anything, they should move in slightly.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-04-27 22:01
Ok, so relaxation/natural positioning, and good reeds should help? That seems so obvious, but I really wasn't thinking about those things. Thanks a lot guys!
I am open to more suggestions still, so in case anyone else has more ideas, shout out!
Wish me luck for Missouri state solo contest/music festival on Friday!
Carrie--yeah, we can play around a bit maybe.
T
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: coasten1
Date: 2005-04-28 15:02
As my clarinet teacher said, "Pretend you are kissing your aunt Trudy."
A pucker face to bring the corners of your lips inward. This in combination of using your upper lip to hold the mouthpiece so your lower lip does not put too much compression on the reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-04-28 15:19
this may sound weird, but when I play, especially when I start leaking air, I think of making dimples. And to do that I have to tighten the corners and kinda pull them back. I wouldn't say it's a smile though...
yea, good reeds help. I think it's harder to keep a good embochure when my reeds are too thick because I need extra air and energy to get a good sound, so my embouchre gets a bit too loose. on the othre hand, too thin reeds affects it too. So it's got to be a balance. it sounds like you're on the right track.
-Lindsie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
