 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-11-26 17:34
HelloI was practicing in the mirror (actually playing long-tones and combing my hair, don't ask) and noticed my embouchure looks different on one side. My right side is perfect, while the left is pulled back in a smirk (kinda reminds me of the Batman villan, two-face or something like that); kinda' like I've had a stroke or something (I haven't). I tried correcting it, and it would stay until I took a breath, then it moved back where it was (I had stopped combing my hair at this point and was totally focusing on the embouchure). Any suggestions?? My current instructor says my sound is great, and my embouchure was fine (she sits on my right side all the time, so I don't know if she has seen "my other side" hehehe!!). I would like to correct this, but don't know if it NEEDS to be done now. Thoughts anyone???
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-11-26 17:41
Well, my first suggestion would be to mention the difference in the sides to your instructor and have her see if she thinks you need to change...
Katrina
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-11-26 17:49
I know a great player that plays the clarinet slightly from one side of his mouth. And no, he doesn't play trumpet from the other side at the same time. I've sen an orchestral player here in the UK that plays from one side of his mouth as well.
We aren't symmetrical, nearly but not quite, and with embouchures there are loads of factors that come into account - teeth, jaw, muscles and other factors can make embouchures look wonky, but if the result is a good tone or ease of playing there's no reason to change to a embouchure that is 'symmetrical'.
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-11-26 18:56
Chris P
I'm sorry, I don't understand your post (must still be REALLY tired, lol!!!). By "from one side" I take it to mean that he plays with the clarinet mouthpiece not centered under his two front teeth or angled to one side. Is that what you're saying??
When I play, the clarinet isn't angled to one side but right in front of me and centered to my body, and the mouthpiece is perfectly centered in my mouth. My lips are a little wacky. One side is pulled back in a sort of smirk while the other is lookin' pretty good. If that is what you said, then please disregard. Thanks for your patience, now where's that coffee?!?!
Clayton
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-11-26 19:07
Yeah, they play with the clarinet to one side of their mouth, so it isn't centered between the front two teeth. I suppose it's what's comfortable and works best for them. As far as their general playing and sound goes I think they play very well.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-11-26 21:00
Quote:
Yeah, they play with the clarinet to one side of their mouth, so it isn't centered between the front two teeth. I suppose it's what's comfortable and works best for them. As far as their general playing and sound goes I think they play very well. I noticed that too from some players. As a matter of fact, I think a few weeks ago when I saw Mark Nuccio give that master class at Mannes he was playing slightly "off-center". Sounded great, that's for sure, so I didn't really care to notice it too much. Maybe it was just the angle I saw it at, but it sure seemed like that to me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-11-27 01:01
Clarinetgirl06 plays or at least used to play slightly off to one side, but that specifically didn't seem to do much harm, if any, to her sound.
-Tyler
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