 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: razaz03
Date: 2015-05-23 21:54
Hi all,
Disclaimer: I'm an adult new to the clarinet (and instruments in general).
I have one of my front teeth longer than the other such that when I press them down on the mouth piece, it will (naturally) rotate my instrument a little bit in resting position.
That in itself doesn't bother me, but it seems that (perhaps) because of this, one cheek - and only one cheek, gets a little puffy when playing which does bother me greatly as I do not want to develop any atypical habbits early on, and the asymmetry will take it's toll when playing for a long time, which I fully intend to do as I love the instrument.
I've tried covering my front teeth with my top lip just intuitively - apparently this is a widely adopted technique you guys aptly call double lip. It works a treat in every way for me - helping to produce (in my opinion) better sound and it seems to alleviate that puffer/crooked teeth concern as it doesn't happen when playing double lip.
The problem is my teacher is so staunchly opposed to double lip that's she's explicitly forbidden me from using it. I don't know the history behind single/double and frankly, unless it has any downsides I should worry about - I don't care.
Right now it's probably the case that, given time I could get equivalent sound and fewer drawbacks (screeches and puffy cheeks) from single as I currently have with double, I just don't feel the need to delay my progression (and potentially reintroduce any issues that might crop up due to my teeth).
I also don't want to defy her (she's tough and I fear she'll beat me with her instrument). Plus she is right in that my tone isn't currently smooth and the pitch does change when playing double lip (probably because of stability issues).
Literally my only concern is that my crooked teeth will perpetuate a disability when playing single-lip. I am considering filing one down at the dentists but the waiting queues for anything health-related is trash in my country.
Any advice is gladly welcome!
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-05-23 23:21
razaz03 wrote:
> The problem is my teacher is so staunchly opposed to double lip
> that's she's explicitly forbidden me from using it.
>
> I also don't want to defy her (she's tough and I fear she'll
> beat me with her instrument). Plus she is right in that my tone
> isn't currently smooth and the pitch does change when playing
> double lip (probably because of stability issues).
>
You needn't defy your teacher. Replacing her would be more to the point. Anyone who is that dogmatic, especially with an adult beginner, should be in another line of work.
More generally, I may be missing something in your post, but I'm not sure if your uneven teeth are on the bottom or the top. Whether on the top or the bottom, If the difference is exaggerated enough, you might consider having your dentist fit a removable plastic appliance that covers the two front teeth and would even the biting surfaces out. If the difference is only small, a piece of folded paper or a short length of denture cushion (EZO pad) folded over the teeth might correct the problem and protect the lip surface from abrasion.
You're right that puffing one cheek will likely cause continuing problems down the line. It indicates that the muscles on one side of your mouth are not engaging as firmly as the other. This may or may not be a result of the dental unevenness. If your teacher can't offer any positive solution to the cheek puffing ("forbidding" isn't positive, especially when lots of players play double lip successfully), that's one more reason to find someone else.
Karl
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-05-24 00:50
I second everything Karl just said. I'm not one to be rash in second guessing a fellow teacher, especially with so little to go and no direct experience of the person or the student. However in this case, I think you should at least try a lesson with another teacher and get a second opinion. Be sure that this second person is well qualified, and if possible ask around about their reputation. There may not be a real problem with your current teacher, but it sure sounds like there is from your description. It looks like you are in London. There must be a generous supply of very fine teachers there!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-05-24 01:31
No less a clarinetist than Harold Wright played double lip, so does John Yeh (presently of the Chicago Symphony). Most really fine players who play single lip actually say that they WOULD switch if they could (actually heard this from both Clark Brody of the Chicago Symphony and Karl Leister formerly principal with Berlin).
There is NO down side to double lip. My guess is that not being familiar with what to tell you (as you mentioned, you sound immediately different that way), she would rather work with what she knows - on that level I can somewhat sympathize with her. However, as stated above, you can seek out someone for whom that is NOT a problem, considering that there is a significant 'up-side' for you.
I would say that unless there is risk of causing some tooth related problem, you'd be much better off getting the teeth evened out....... even if you stick with double lip.
Since the mouthpiece wants to sit at an angle, can you turn the mouthpiece to that angle so that the clarinet sits straight? Does that help?
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2015-05-24 02:42
I'm using those self- adhesive pads on my mouthpieces, and as my left upper front tooth is longer than the right one, to even this out I stick half of a second pad, lengthwise cut, on the right side over the first pad. I don't like the idea of having the tooth filed down: It's more expensive, and the tooth tip would be sensitive for some time afterward.
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Author: richard smith
Date: 2015-05-24 16:59
I had same problem at age 12; it's the reason my parents started me on clarinet. ( That and the fact they could not afford expensive dental treatment for me.) I was taught double lip, and used it for 70 years. No regrets, all plus.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2015-05-24 17:34
Several years ago, I had the uneven front tooth issue and was really digging through one side of the rubber pad I put on top of the MP.
I asked my dentist about it during my regular cleaning/exam, he felt it and said "this is kinda sharp" and tooth his tools and in about a minute had ground it down a little.
No extra charge and it has been fine for all these years. I've even gone to no rubber pad on my bass clarinet MPs.
HRL
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-05-24 18:10
My upper front teeth were even, but very sharp. I asked my dentist if this was fixable and he said it would be easy and take 5 minutes. He did it about 6 years ago when I had my regular checkup and didn't even charge for it. I've had no issues with sensitivity and no more cut lips.
Tony F.
Post Edited (2015-05-24 18:11)
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2015-05-25 07:17
The dentist can also bond filler material to the teeth and then grind it even. I had that done and it fixed the same problem for me. Costs the same as a couple fillings and improved my looks!
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: razaz03
Date: 2015-05-25 16:34
Thank you all for your comments.
Following your advice - I've booked a dentist appt for tomorrow and it's a toss-up of whether he'd do it for me on the day in my opinion (as they're so ridiculously busy he may ask me to come back) but I will be fixing the single front tooth issue regardless.
Re my teacher, despite the fact that we've only had 4 lessons or so, I do like her and feel a sense of loyalty there (call me soft) and, coupled with some single-lip practise whereby I've already all but eliminated the screeches, feel that I can be well on my way with both techniques.
I suppose I'll mix the embouchure up to keep both options open and decide how I feel about them later down the line - once the newbie issues are sorted and it inevitably becomes more important with the full use of the instrument at advanced level.
Thanks once again for the suggestions & motivation, really a great crowd here!
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Author: Jbosacki
Date: 2015-05-28 06:10
Going to the dentist comment
When I was 16 I was at the dentist and I asked her about how my one tooth being slightly tilted and how it effected my clarinet playing to the point where this tooth left physical dents in my first good bass clarinet mouthpiece (which are definitely not cheap!)
I asked her if she could grind a little off the middle and make them flat, after being a little more than persistent about it and after she fully explained the risks to me (exposing the inside enamel of the tooth, I forget exactly what she said after 8 years) she straightened them out with one of those big grinders. It took her less than 30 seconds to do it and change my playing forever.
I've never had any problems from it and I would 100% look into it for an option. It immediately changed my playing and I definitely don't regret it, infact I'm SO glad I convinced her to do it
But again this is a permanent thing and if it doesn't go well like mine there's no going back, I'd talk to your dentist about it! It might be the solution you're looking for! Good luck!
-Jeff
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