 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: orchestr
Date: 2015-10-15 18:09
I have two students right now who have the "sizzle" of moisture collecting between the reed and mouthpiece on virtually every note they play. Every chance they get, they do the mouthpiece slurp, and that lasts for a note or two, until (I assume) the tongue deposits more moisture between the reed and the mouthpiece. I have them swallow, breathe in through their mouth, even take off their reed to dry it, and the mouthpiece, and yet the sizzle comes back within a few seconds of them playing. Slurp and repeat.
Has anyone struggled with this or had students who have? Any suggestions? I could have them tongue below the tip of the reed, but I worry that would affect their clarity of articulation. However, at this point I'd prefer thuddy articulation on a few notes to fuzz on every note!
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2015-10-15 18:43
I play tenor sax with a metal Selmer mouthpiece. If the sizzle is happening I put a small amount of olive oil on the baffle area of the mouthpiece. Just apply with your finger tip.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2015-10-16 03:12
I used to have this happen all the time when I was in college and couldn't ever figure it out (neither could my instructor). Never had a problem before or since...until the other day when I practiced in an acoustically odd room while standing. I hadn't practiced while standing for quite some time (years) - and for some reason the problem returned. Was it my breathing (I always get "too much" breath when standing, and need to figure out how to use it all)? Was it the clarinet position? Was it the strange room?
I don't know.
However, once I became aware of this difference, I made sure to relax on my breathing, and I adjusted the clarinet's position accordingly, and the problem disappeared immediately.
Fuzzy
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2015-10-16 03:49
I have had good results by telling students to use less tongue on the reed and try to tongue a bit down from the tip, so the tongue is not transferring moisture to the area between the reed and mouthpiece. Sometimes students will be tonguing with lots of tongue on the reed when more of a tip of the tongue will do better. I never heard of the olive oil idea....I would be interested to hear if that works for your students!
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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