 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-10-31 01:48
k, so right now I play on some 3.5 vandoren traditionals w/ an M13 Lyre. I feel like my embouchure is pretty lacking. Will stepping up my reed strength help my embouchure?
Jeeves
Any other tips for a better embouchure/what you do for your embouchure are welcome.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-10-31 01:51
no. develop your embuochure on a softer reed before you move up.
if your embouchure needs improvement, a harder reed won't help - and will probably hinder you.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
Post Edited (2008-10-31 01:54)
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-10-31 01:52
Correct me if I am wrong, but harder does not necessarily equal better. In fact, if the reeds you step up to are too hard, it will only make things worse. Try getting reeds a size higher and lower, and compare them to what you currently play on. See what sounds better. The best reeds you can play on are the ones you sound best on, and can play comfortably with. Don't try to play harder reeds if your embouchure is not built for harder reeds.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-10-31 01:56
Yes, of course. A #8 will make you Clarinetzilla.
Joking aside, strenght doesn't really matter. It should match the mouthpiece and your snout. Ideally, you could play for hours without getting tired.
(except from the song, so turn pages as you see fit)
I can't say whether I 3.5 V is "good" or "bad". How do you sound? That's the question, not the the strength of your reed, or the colour of your thumb rest.
I always have some other reeds at hand, some softer, some harder. I don't play the same strength every day.
Finally - what is it that lacks in your embouchure? Muscles? Tone? Stamina?
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-10-31 01:57)
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-10-31 01:59
Basically, I start playing, and when I get caught up in the music, my embouchure starts failing.
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-10-31 02:01
Then your reeds are probably too hard, though it is possible your embouchure is formed incorrectly. Do you have a teacher?
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-10-31 02:06
No... I should probably get one soon if I want to get better.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-10-31 02:10
Well if you want to develop a stronger embouchure then long loud tones are what you need. But if you want to develop a good tone then you must master correct embouchure(I want to call it embouchure when all is put together breathing, support,relaxation of the neck and tongue,how you voices the notes and forming of the mouth and lip).
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Author: Jkelly32562
Date: 2008-10-31 02:21
Practice with a mirror and it will be a lot easier to catch your embouchure when it starts to slip. Also long tones not only help breath support, but help with embouchure stamina.
Jonathan Kelly
jkelly32562@troy.edu
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-10-31 02:57
Someone said on here that they knew a professional player that said she used 2.5 V12s, and felt a bit embarrassed about it. I say, if you can play beautifully on a 2, better use that than play mediocre on a 3.5.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-10-31 03:35
Reed strength is essentially meaningless as a determiner of ability, stamina, tone quality, etc., etc.
If your embouchure fails after playing a while, build up your stamina by practicing shorter amounts more times throughout the day. Long-distance runners don't start at 26.2 miles! If you get tired at around (for example) 15 minutes of playing, try practicing for 3 10-minute sessions a day for a week. The next week, you should hopefully be able to play for 2 15-minute sessions without a break in embouchure. Do this for another week, and then see if you can play 2 20-minute sessions. After this third week, see if you can practice a half-hour, etc., etc....
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-10-31 04:51
"Basically, I start playing, and when I get caught up in the music, my embouchure starts failing."
Me too.....so, what's new! I can't run a 4 minute mile yet either.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-10-31 10:58
Will stepping up my reed strength help my embouchure?
As above: no!
In fact stepping down might help more. (You'll know when it's /too/ soft for you because it'll start to sound rubbish.) It's really, really common for students to play on a reed that's too hard. I know I did.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-10-31 12:28
It's like any exercise - you build up strength and stamina over time by taking things easy and gradually increasing the weights or time you excercise for. If you push yourself too far too soon, you'll only end up doing yourself damage.
So start with a reed that's easy to play on and work on your embouchure and tone, and then increase reed strength only when you feel like it's getting too easy and the tone starts to get harsh.
It's not a competition to see if you can play on floorboards like everyone else as we are all different in our physiology, and all progress at different rates.
Most players I know of don't play on anything stronger than a Vandoren 3 as they find that strength of reed comfortable and reliable for them. Most beginners tend to start on a 1.5 to get to grips with the basics and then increase reed strength as their embouchure develops.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-10-31 12:47
I agree with the advice above -- and it's worth emphasizing that your embouchure and the number on the reed only work well together if the reed's also a good match for the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece is a good match for the clarinet. As an advanced amateur and collector (see, I'm admitting it now!) of old clarinets, I've tried out some truly disastrous combinations of clarinet / reed / mouthpiece. The worst can make me sound like a 9-year-old beginner, out of breath and squeaking like a rodent.
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Hey hey, whaddya widda rodent stuff like it was a bad thing! This is Dick Vigorous, Boss Rat of the Entire Universe, if ya don't believe me, come here an I'll bite ya hard onna snout. I'm borrowing Lelia's brain an fingers fer a minute here while she thinks she gone to sleep at the computer. (Nasty old Shadow Cat thinks she's the only one what can pull that trick, huh.) Now listen, rats is yer biggest fans inna whole world, an we want ya to play that cracked Goldtone an use a number 5 reed on it, okay? Them squeaks, ooooooooooh mama! I wanna lay inna attic an listen to them squeeeeeeeeeeeeeaks! Fergit MostFart, fergit alla them other classical whoseyfaces, we want more squeaks! Squeaks! Squeaks! Harder reeds an chipped mouthpiece, that's the ticket, ya mugs.
Dick Vigorous
Rodent Extraordinaire
an don't never confuse me widdat stoopid restaurant chef
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-10-31 12:52)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-10-31 13:05
For some players, the setup you listed is perfect. This is exactly the reed/mp combination my daughter is using, as suggested by her teacher, a member of a world-respected symphony orchestra.
Before you decide you need to change something in the equation, lessons with a qualified teacher might be a better idea. The pro cam see where you nered improvement far better than you can, or than we can, trying to analyze your issues over the Net!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2008-10-31 15:31
jeeves,
this shows your ISP in Detroit, Michigan area
I'm just north of Detroit up I-75 a couple miles
If you are around here check my profile and email me (you don't have an email addy in yours). I can help you with your embouchure (no charge) .. get you on the right track .. then to a teacher if you need.
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
Post Edited (2008-10-31 18:45)
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