 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2007-08-01 00:55
With the encouragement of Gregory Smith, I decided to start this thread with the hope of obtaining information about playing the clarinet with the mpc off center...either to the left or right of center.
I, unfortunately, suffer from a facial muscle disorder called embouchure dystonia. http://www.embouchuredystonia.com/
I can play with the mpc centered, however, when I look in the mirror the following morning, I see a rather frightening disfiguration. The right side of my face is locked (involuntary muscle contraction) in a upward smile position and I'll also have a 1/2 inch long, deep vertical crease in my upper lip directly above the right corner of my mouth.
To ease the contraction, I yawn or stretch the muscle numerous times during the day. Even after a sustained stretching period, when I close my mouth, the contractions are still there. The length of time required before my facial muscles return to a normal looking state can vary from 8 hrs to several days depending upon how long I've been playing on a certain day.
The muscles on the right side of my face seem to be weaker than on the left. I remember as a kid that air would always leak on the right side of the mpc and I had to work harder (increase contraction strength) to stop the air leakage.
I decided to do some experimenting. Playing with the mpc to the right of center actually made the symptoms far worse. When my face, more or less, returned to normal shape, I tried playing with the mpc to the left of center. The dystonia was still there, however, the intensity of the involuntary muscle contractions was noticeably less.
I am wondering if off center playing puts unequal pressure on the bottom of the reed which might produce unstable results. I also notice that off center playing to the left tenses the muscles more on the left side and hence they appear to be more developed or larger than on the right side of my face.
Does anyone on the BB have direct knowledge about off center playing?
Would a specific type of mpc facing work better with off center playing?
I've given up playing numerous times. If I even think about playing for an extended period of time, the involuntary muscle contractions will appear the following morning.
Any insightful information would be greatly appreciated.
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Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2007-08-01 01:21
I don't intentionally play off center, but every time I look at the mouthpiece cushion, the two tooth marks are offset to the right, so, apparently, I do. Numerous teachers have told me that it's not a problem. All my mouthpieces are symmetrical, if that means anything. There's a chance that only my upper jaw is offset when I play, however, in which case the reed wouldn't really be affected.
Edit: I should add that I play with the barrel turned counterclockwise 10-20 degrees.
Post Edited (2007-08-01 01:22)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2007-08-01 02:07
Clariphant, I may be wrong, but it still sounds as if you're playing with the mpc in the center of your mouth with the mpc slightly twisted counterclockwise.
What I was trying to refer to was playing with the mpc physically repositioned or moved to the left or right of center with the reed basically still being horizontal.
BTW, thanks for your input.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-08-01 04:36
I play with the mouhtpiece turned a little to the left (i.e. the reed not aligned with the register key) and the tooth marks on the mouthpiece patch are not in the center at all so I guess I play off center in that way also. Sometimes I try to play with the mouthpiece completely aligned and centered and maybe it does feel easier or it could just be my imagination but it is so uncomfortable to me that I need to play it off center and turned.
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-08-01 05:22
By off center, are you saying you point the clarinet towards the right so that the mouthpiece points, for lack of a better word, towards your left cheek? Or are you saying that your clarinet points straight out and enters your mouth off center. In other words your left molars are closer to the mouthpiece than the right molars? There is a big difference.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2007-08-01 05:35
Kenny G made millions of dollars playing the soprano saxophone way off center. I saw and heard him play in Rheuben's repair shop in the LA union buillding the other day and he sounded great. Good luck!
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2007-08-01 05:42
Dano, absolutely there is a big difference.
By off center, I mean the entire mpc is to the left or right of the line formed by the two top front teeth. I am not referring to the mpc being twisted or pointed to the left or right with the mpc essentially still in the center of the mouth.
Perhaps for a better explanation I should say "insert the mpc so that it is centered between the top two front teeth and the clarinet is pointed directly away from the body. Then simpy allow the mpc to "slide" to the left about 1/2 inch or more while still pointing the clarinet directly away from the body. However, along with "sliding" the mpc to the left, the body of the clarinet, possibly for comfort reasons, may be pointed around 30 degrees to the left.
Didn't Acker Bilk play out of the right side of his mouth with the clarinet body pointed towards his right? That's what I'm referring to.
Hope this explanation helps.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-08-01 07:14
I don't know how you have tried it but I think it would be easiest to hold the clarinet straight, and point your nose towards the right. I have seen a student once do very off center and he had good results. He seemed to have a bit of asymmetry in his mouth- don't know why.
Post Edited (2007-08-01 08:47)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-08-01 13:26
Dan,
I know several good players that play the clarinet from one side of their mouth.
The current principal clarinettist of the BBC Concert Orchestra plays from one side of his mouth as well.
If it works well for you, then do that. Everyone's physiology is different for whatever reason, so we all have to find what works best for us.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-08-01 14:29
I was watching a marching tape of me last year and when they zoomed in on me I noticed it looked like I was playing more to the right then to the center. I've never really thought about it.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-08-01 14:49
Hello Dan,
I agree with the many above that there are different functioning approaches. The ultimate determinator is your pleasure with your sound, facility, and efficiency of performing the clarinet.
As to whether your teeth (offset) will put uneven pressure on the reed? You will have to determine that.
The mouthpiece sits pretty much dead even in my mouth (although one corner of my mouth is further away than the other!). I have one front lower tooth that protrudes more greatly than its' companions, and I find almost all of my reeds are off balance in the opposite direction.
So my answer is yes, your teeth will factor into the equation. I will tell you also that I'm pleased with my playing, so even with my remarks about myself that tooth is not slowing me down!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-08-01 15:06
Dan -
Anatomy (or, here, dystonia) is destiny. You play with the mouthpiece in the position that works best. For you, also put it in the place that leaves you uninjured.
At a master class, Mark Nuccio said that it doesn't matter where you put the reed, so long as it's the same place every time.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2007-08-01 16:46
My thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments. They are all very much appreciated and have given me much food for thought as well as an ample supply of hope.
Thanks again!
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