 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-06-26 16:21
Put rather crudely: many of my students tend to spit into the mouthpiece when they tongue, producing a frying-eggs sound. I imagine tonguing makes you salivate, but why doesn't it do that to me? What is to be done about this defect?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2014-06-26 17:33
With some of my students I found they were using too much of their tongue on the reed and transferring saliva between the reed and mouthpiece. Once they got the idea of just using the tip of the tongue, then the problem ended. There are times also that getting them to put on a better reed helped....a bad or broken reed can encourage bad habits.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-06-26 17:50
Based on an experience I had last night with a new student, I'd say it may not be what's going in as you hear them but the accumulation that has built up over an unknown period of never cleaning the mouthpiece out.
I don't find this a problem when I play, but I once or twice (or several times as needed) during a playing session take the reed off the mouthpiece and blot any water off the back surface. I know lots of players who, when they notice the sizzling noise - usually in soft passages especially in the chalumeau - at the next opportunity carefully slide a piece of paper between the reed and the mouthpiece to blot the back of the reed without having to remove it.
And we've all heard and probably made that sucking sound during a short rest as we try quickly to clear accumulated water. It used to drive the wind ensemble conductor crazy when I was in college when my stand partner did it loud enough to be heard - and the conductor was an excellent clarinetist who understood the problem perfectly well but didn't like hearing the sucking sound coming through the music.
Everyone salivates (dry mouth, from nerves or some medications, is disabling at the other end of the spectrum). I haven't heard your students, but I don't think this is so much a problem of spitting as it is one of handling the problem effectively before, during and after playing.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-06-26 18:32
Of course if you are referring to the "pre-sound" that comes off rather like someone spitting watermelon seeds it is caused by creating an air stream AT THE SAME TIME as applying the tongue. You need to have the air pressure already present at that point (the reed/tongue) to avoid this effect.
I had a student start a note without the tongue. She couldn't believe how easy it was and how good it sounded. Naturally the work begins at this point, teaching the STOPPING of the note (as you would in a fast staccato passage that is).
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-06-26 23:10
Thank you all; you all had good suggestions and a good diagnosis. John: I think you're right about students' using too much of the surface of the tongue. Also, salivating is a reflex, but once again this is another instance of mind over matter. You decide to salivate a little less and you manage to do so through some act of will. This requires experience, though. Karl: I agree that excess water in the mouthpiece has to be sucked up, and preferably without a loud slurp.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-06-27 15:40
I was thinking about those vacuum-cleaner type devices dentists stick into your mouth to suck the water out. Maybe it would be worth my investing in one.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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