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Re: Lessening support. Have I missed something?

Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2010-04-26 14:46

This is in regard to quantity of air.
Is it possible that clarinetists are making minute embouchure shifts that are not usually talked about. It would be similar to an oboist or bassoonist who uses different embouchure sets for different registers. There might be smaller changes for dynamics. If one looks at flute pedagogy it is quite common for flutists to use a larger aperture(embouchure) for loud and smaller for soft dynamics. This goes hand in hand with slower air for soft and faster for loud. One can of course mix and match these components for different effects. I know on clarinet that embouchure pressure naturally alters with playing softly and loud. It is a proclivity built into relaxing. We are taught not lose the set for soft playing as the tone will get "flabby". With all this in mind I would ask.........DO CLARINETISTS ALTER THE EMBOUCHURE APERTURE AND POSITION TO OBTAIN A BIGGER TONE AND SMALLER TONE(QUANTITY OF AIR) MAKING CORRECTIONS FOR PITCH ALONG THE WAY? If they don't then I can't see how quantity of air is differentiated from air speed. Some of course would equate more resonance to bigger tone I guess but I wouldn't refer to this as the use of more air.

Freelance woodwind performer

Post Edited (2010-04-26 14:49)

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