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Re: the edge

Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-12-02 13:01

Some possibilities that I found with MY edge...

Reed too light.
Squeezing (biting) too much (edge goes away with a much looser embouchure and more airfow).

I fixed it by selecting a different reed (feel very comfortable with my reed choice now, but previous reeds were too light for that mouthpiece), learning to put more mouthpiece in which makes it unnecessary to bite. I worked on better airstreams and air support. And the higher I go on a clarinet, the looser my embouchure becomes. The lower I go, the more firm it gets (not biting, just firm).

Work on the stuff every day as a quick warmup before a practice session. I slur very slow major scales (triplets at 60bpm), two octaves. Start on low E, end at clarion E. Then low F# to clarion F# and continue chromatically as high as I can. While doing this I focus on a fim embouchure down low and a loose emouchure in the upper clarion and altissimo, keeping my tongue as close to the reed as possible, keeping a good tongue position and a constant strong airstream.

After a few weeks, it's gotten more natural, and feels like a good warmup to get me ready to play. I do a few more things too, but this is the first and foremost, and if I only have time to do one warmup before a rehearsal, this is the one I do. I feel it keeps the muscles in shape, keeps the tone production in shape, and warms the fingers up pretty well.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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