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Re: Double Lip Embouchure Pain

Author: EEJ
Date: 2010-12-28 18:15

Well, you seem to have stepped into a delightful controversy! Having played double lip for most of my 40 year career I am only too familiar with it. I would make the following suggestion: since it has improved your tone dramatically, you are likely a good candidate for double lip. Not all are. My teachers and role models, most of whom played double lip (Gaston Hamelin, Ralph McLane, Harold Wright, Kalmen Oppermann, Gino Cioffi, Ignatius Gennusa, Andrew Crisanti and Keith Stein) for the most part suggest as natural an amount of upper lip as possible. (Gennusa being an exception) That obviously varies with the individual. Make sure you do not have an "air pocket" in there though, the lip should be snug against the teeth. That said; endurance and range have never been a problem.... UNLESS under prolonged and/or aggressive playing conditions, and frankly that can impact any embouchure. My technique for either style of embouchure is to catch it as early as possible, or prepare in advance and use Ibuprofen with liberal doses of a good antiseptic mouthwash. When the lips get sore I believe it is a form of low grade infection. Whatever it is, I KNOW it causes swelling, thus only making the problem worse. With double lip, it is (obviously) twice as bad. Absolute Misery. But you can prevent/control it. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic mouthwash helps the infection, but try to catch it early next time. Sounds like you have the right reason to play this way and your commitment is justified... don't give up!!

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Double Lip Embouchure Pain new

Claire Annette

2010-12-22 14:33