 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dave Lee Ennis
Date: 2000-03-15 12:55
I have a very interesting comment to make. I may or may not have a pointed chin when I play, but (as Nick mentioned in his message "Pointed Chin"), I have a problem with biting the mouthpiece. I've had to change the protector thing (I don't know what its called) 3 times in the last year. I started playing the clarinet when I was 8 and immediately when I played, I bit the mouthpiece. No-one at that time told me it would have an effect on the sound, so I kept doing this until I ended up with my front 2 teeth pushed inwards - a serious tooth deformation! Now, I CAN'T play the clarinet without biting the mouthpiece, because of this deformity. Does anyone out there have a similar problem? I would love to hear your solutions - BUT! Before you cry 'BRACES!' let me just say that I have tried to go to an ortodontist for the past 1.5 years and I am still on their waiting list! The N.H.S sucks in England! (That's where I'm from by the way)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-15 14:15
Dave,
Go to double lip for a while (or permanently - double lip is a fine and respected embouchure). While it's going to hurt for a while, it <B>will</b> cure you of biting.
"Doctor, it hurts when I do that!"
"Well, don't do that!"
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 2000-03-15 14:27
And we complain about our(USA) Health Care system.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-03-16 01:33
If the angle is such that it slowly pushing your upper teeth inward, it may be that your holding you clarinet out to far and with your head tilted forward. Try pulling it in so the the angle is about 30 degrees from virtical with your head straight. This would put the angle on the top of your mouthpeice so as to push the teeth forward and maybe elimimate the need to bite hard. Try it in both positions and see if you can feel the difference.
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2000-03-16 22:25
You could always try playing double lip AND playing with the reed on top. If your bottom teeth aren't messed up, then there will be no problem. It was the classic german way of playing through about the middle of the nineteenth century. I've been fooling around with that embouchure for the last couple of years, not because I wanted to perform that way, but rather as a practice technique to build up different muscles around the mouth. Funny thing is, I sound pretty good with it now. But to make it work, you also need to play with the clarinet pointed straight out. I haven't done it publicly yet, but one of these days, when I'm doing Mahler and it says "bells up", I'm going for it!
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