The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Chops

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-10-24 15:24

I cut a plastic straw (the kind you get when you buy a can of soda) into 3 pieces (anything shorter runs the risk of choking if you inhale suddenly), flattening a piece slightly, forming an embouchure and squeezing it between my lips. I alternate between horizontally (across) and pointing out (like a cigarette).

You will barely be able to do it at all at the beginning, but lip muscle strength builds up fairly quickly, and the plastic gets softer with bending. A piece of plastic lasts me 3 or 4 days.

You can do the same with pencil, but the lack of resilience can cause muscle strain.

I also took a dead reed and snipped the tip as thick as my trimmer would do it. I put it on a junk mouthpiece with a junk ligature and added a junk barrel, and hold it in an embouchure while driving or web surfing. (If you don't have junkers, you can get them for free or for a dollar or two at any instrument repair shop.) You may want to start with just the mouthpiece. Unlike playing, you have to keep your lips and the mouthpiece and reed dry. I play double lip, so I also work with the reed on top, which exercises my upper lip better.

There's a commercial product called Chop-Sticks <www.liemartech.com/Chop-Sticks/DetailMain.html>, but it's intended mainly for brass players. Also, it's $25, and the DIY solutions are free.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics