 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2012-03-13 05:13
So I was watching the videos of Ricardo morales playing the Mozart earlier today and I noticed his embochure which looked a lot different from mine. Which got me thinking about my embochure and sound. In the video Ricardo's bottom lip was perfectly flat which is how I've always been told to make my embochure. I took a look in the mirror today and noticed that when I make my embochure it's perfectly flat too but when I start to blow it scrunches up alittle bit. I have concluded I do this because if I don't then all the air goes out of my mouth through little holes that I cannot cover otherwise. I experimented with trying to make my lip as flat as possible and found it does considerably help my tone but I cannot completely do it and not without air from escaping. So my question I guess would be how to keep that perfect embochure yet not expel any air. Btw: I do take lessons, and I'm not a complete beginner. This will be my 5th year
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-03-13 06:57
Unfortunately, our mouths are not all the same size (and furthermore built to the same proportions). Thus, comparing one's embouchure to another's is not always the best idea (though that is not to say that it is not a good learning exercise). Especially, as the most significant factor in tone is the shape of the inside of one's mouth (really, the only way to figure this one out is either experimentation or to be fortunate enough to find someone with the same shape mouth as yours and learn from them). However, if you want to help out with not leaking air there are a few universal practices that can have positive effects. I have heard here on the Bboard two strategies: (1) to practice double lip, and (2) to say oooo-weee over and over. The former you can probably find more info on the Klezmer Bboard about, and the latter is just a good practice tool while away from the horn. Also, long tones never hurt for getting rid of your leaky sound AND tone AND intonation.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-03-13 09:44
You are looking in the wrong place to solve the 'corner' problem. This is taken care of by using the UPPER LIP muscles. Don't forget that you SURROUND the mouthpiece with your embouchure. So you must employ musculature downward AND also from the sides with your cheek muscles (the same feeling you get trying to suck a thick shake through a straw......only one must blow OUT of course).
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: feadog79
Date: 2012-03-13 13:46
+ 1 for the upper lip comment.
The chin being "flat" is often looked at as the indicator of a correct embouchure. As a result, many students (including myself in my beginning days) try to achieve this by "making" their chin flat and tensing up too much with the lower muscles.
When the musculature is applied downward and from the sides, as Paul said above, the chin will usually become flat on its own.
Ask your teacher; that person can give you advice based on what he/she actually sees.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NBeaty
Date: 2012-03-13 15:46
Indeed, making your chin flat can be done with any type of embouchure you want. It's no indicator of doing anything correctly. All it means is that your chin is flat...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2012-03-13 21:43
Paul you have confirmed what I was pondering today, unfortunately my top lip is much smaller than my bottom lip but now I know what to work on. I got some results yesterday but it is difficult when your also dealing with fixing an overbite at the same time. Thank you:) btw would you or anyone happen to know any exercises to make sure the top lip stays down? Unfortunately I won't see my teacher for a month
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-03-13 22:31
As you engage these muscles actively it may also be helpful to realize that the amount of muscular activity is NOT static. I recall Larry Combs making a point that as you move higher and higher into the altissimo, you should engage more and more of your upper lip (he would say, "almost like turning a key").
If by "fixing an overbite" you mean braces, yes that will be slightly uncomfortable at first getting used to more pressure against the outside of the appliances, but not difficult. And again....don't forget the SIDES of the mouth (using the cheek muscles). Maybe it would be helpful if you think of a proper embouchure as forming your lips as if you were saying "OO" as in 'MOON.' Or actually more like French 'ue' sound (?) ...... ok, this is much easier to show than describe, but as long as your upper lip can reach just beyond the edge of your upper teeth you're fine.
............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
