 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rita
Date: 1999-03-17 18:29
Is there only one correct embouchure? I read Michael Moors "Embouchure Development" online here where he says to draw mouth corners in like a drawstring purse. But he also says to place mouthpiece with red part of lip drawn in over the teeth. That's basically how I've done it, but a teacher here says you are not suppose to curl your lower lip over your teeth. He also says the mouth corners should be down, like a frown. I'd like to get my embouchure right. I need all the help I can get to improve! Thanks, everyone.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-03-17 18:41
Rita wrote:
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Is there only one correct embouchure?
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Not exactly, but there is a basic embouchure to start with.
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I read Michael Moors "Embouchure Development" online here where he says to draw mouth corners in like a drawstring purse. But he also says to place mouthpiece with red part of lip drawn in over the teeth. That's basically how I've done it, but a teacher here says you are not suppose to curl your lower lip over your teeth.
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Lower lip has to go over the lower teeth on a clarinet unless you're into contemporary music where the notes are so high it requires teeth on reed. Are you sure your teacher didn't mean less lip over your bottom teeth??
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He also says the mouth corners should be down, like a frown. I'd like to get my embouchure right. I need all the help I can get to improve!
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Sometimes a teacher will exaggerate something to get you to do something correctly. Now, I've never heard my teacher tell me to turn the corners of my mouth down, but maybe yours curl too far up naturally so the teacher is trying to get you to "over-compensate". Without seeing you it's hard to tell.
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Author: Angela
Date: 1999-03-17 18:59
From what I know about embouchure and from teachers I've had is to keep the chin flat with the corners tucked. A funny way to look at it(and it's the way I learned) is to make a pucker type face. I don't know if this will help at all, but I figured I'd try
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-03-17 19:48
My theory is, if you look like the pros and use the muscles the way they do you're more likely to sound like them. Use a mirror and get some pictures. Your teacher is probably trying to get you to look more like the pros.
Ginny
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Author: Meri
Date: 1999-03-17 20:23
I partly agree with the preceding messages…and partly do not. But we all must remember that a good embouchre obeys certain principles:
1. It allows for unrestricted airflow
2. It allows for good breathing habits
3. The person does not puff out their cheeks. (unless using circular breathing)
4. It allows the development of a desired tone.
Professional players (and advanced amateurs) can play with very different embouchres, and yet still sound superb. Find what is right for you that follows "embouchre principles", for there is no such thing as an absolutely perfect embouchre--what is right for one may not be right for another.
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 1999-03-17 21:09
As Mark stated, you must have some lip between the reed and your teeth. It is impossible to play with your teeth on the reed. Now as to the amount of "Red" lip over the teeth. It will depend on your lip configuration. But generally speaking about 1/2 the red part of the lower lip should be over your teeth. From that point down to where your chin juts out should be stretched as flat as possible. The edges of your mouth should be pulled straight back at the corners as in a smile with the lip over the teeth. You should now be able to feel the tenseness in the muscles at the corners of your “smile”.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-03-18 01:56
My opinion:
If our inside lip part(very smooth part,not the hard red lip) are exposed to the air flow,the sound becomes better,
velvetted.This is applied not only to clarinet but also to every other woodwinds!But this needs at least 6 months dilligent practice time.
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Author: Fat Albert
Date: 1999-03-19 01:35
However you form your embrochure, be VERY careful not to let your top teeth bite the reed/mouthpiece. I made this mistake and it took many months of hard practice to fix it! Be sure not to tense up beyond what is necessary to get a firm embrochure.
Also, I read something somewhere about forming an embrochure; it said to put the clarinet in your mouth, play a note, and then wiggle your chin from side to side until it feels like it is 'hanging' and stretched down and relaxed. Be sure you keep a firm chin and controlled tone when you try this. When I tried it, it made for a much nicer sound. This also helps your tougue position, which allows for better tonguing. Good luck!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-03-19 03:49
You can try double lip embouchure to remedy emboushour problem.This is certified.
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Author: will
Date: 1999-03-20 08:39
Could you please elaborate?
How do you expose your inner lip to the air-flow?
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-03-24 02:03
I meant not to curl lip completly to cover the lower teeths. Rather,we should have an imagination to support the reed only by the hard part of lip and allow the soft inner part of lip to touche and vibrate with the reed.If we use this method,sounds become very mellow and sweet.Maybe,we should change this embouchoure to allow hard and harsh tones.
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