The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: iowagrl
Date: 2005-11-01 21:36
Breathing has always been somewhat of an issue for me, but since I switched to a Portnoy BP03, I've noticed that I run out of air faster and need to breathe more often. Is there a correlation between the size/facing/tip opening of a mouthpiece and the amount of air it takes to produce a sound? Or should I be concentrating more on focusing my airstream? Would I benefit from a mouthpiece that uses air more efficiently?
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-11-01 21:49
Sarah
It would probably help to tell us which mouthpiece you switched from. Otherwise, we don't have any basis with which to form a hypothesis. Do you have respiratory problems?? Do you know how to breathe properly?? Do you have a teacher or friend who can actually hear and see you play to help diagnose the problem??
Clayton
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2005-11-01 23:14
Off hand, the Portnoy BP3 is a pretty open mouthpiece. If you did not come down in the strength of your reeds, you are most definitely putting more air in to make the same reed vibrate in the same way.
It is easier to "trade up" on size in an attempt to be bigger or darker. This trend (if that's what it is) can spiral out of control, so just try to keep the mouthpieces to a moderate facing at most unless you are going for the "weaker reed, jazzier sound."
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: iowagrl
Date: 2005-11-02 03:56
Before the Portnoy, I used a mouthpiece made by a college professor from my area (Michael Chesher). All I know about the mouthpiece is that it was made from a Zinner blank and the tip opening is 0.1. I know that the Portnoy has a more open tip.
To answer your other questions:
No, I don't have respiratory problems. I take lessons every week, so my professor and I have addressed this issue before. I would really like to focus on the issue right now and find ways to improve it. Aside from breathing exercises, I'm wondering if any adjustments in equipment would help. I am just looking for more opinions.
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