 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ben
Date: 2001-03-19 21:52
Over time I have tried numerours mouthpieces and the ones I find most comfortable to form an embouchure around (and additionialy end up playing the best), are the ones which allow the angle of the reed (after balanced) to be as close to horozontal as possible (do to a symmetrical facing, I presume).
What I am wondering is: "what influence does dental structure of an individual have on the amount and the angle of a-symmetry in the facing for the mp which is found to be most comfortable/prefer to play on?"
Myself, possesing teeth which seem to be in allignment with each other with respect to symetry (i.e. two bottom teeth are of equal height, as are the top, etc.), led me to wonder if this is a large reason why I prefer symmetrically faced mouthpieces, in general, over mouthpieces which have differently angled rails.
Any additional or opposing thoughts on this?
Additionialy, what sort of dental structure do the some of the makers of a-symmetrically faced mps (like Pyne or Fobes) have, or that, of mp makers who try for symmetrical facings (like Smith)?
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-03-20 09:26
Well... for the guys who promote playing with no "biting" the teeth would make zilch difference. They would not notice if they had no teeth at all. But of course I believe most players actually do use a bit of bite to help their playing. But then again, the lip cushion is fairly thick so the dental shape may have about as much effect as a pea under a mattress.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-03-20 14:57
Ben -
I don't think dental structure makes much difference. One of my lower front teeth leans backward a little. I had a dentist make a fitting to go over it and used it for about a year, but couldn't tell much difference and missed the sensation of playing in my lower teeth. I also chipped an upper front tooth years ago. It took about 6 months to get used to the change, but after that I couldn't tell any difference, or see any looking in a mirror.
Steve Girko, a terrific player, has a crooked lower jaw. He rotates his mouthpiece about 15 degrees to the side to compensate. Bernard Portnoy, who played principal in the Philadelphia Orchestra, has a receding chin. He simply holds the instrument more vertical.
Asymmetrical mouthpiece designs (such as Jim Pyne's) have very small changes from symmetrical shape -- a few thousandths of an inch. It's done for playing qualities, and not to compensate for uneven teeth or jaw shape.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-03-21 03:34
Ben:
I think you are straining to find out someting to which there is no real answer. Any mouthpiece you play must be comfortable to the individual playing it. This is one of the reasons there are so many types of mouthpieces out there. If you don't feel comfortable with a mouthpiede you probably will not play well on it. I believe it would be much more profitable to concentrate on working on good tone and technique with a mouthpiece with which you feel comfortable and gets good results than your previous question. As a more direct answer to your question I know of no study in the area in which you are suggesting. That does not mean that none have been done, however.
Bob Curtis
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