The Clarinet BBoard

FUNNY: Does double lip embouchure give me a decent Oboe embouchure?

Author: zhangray4  Date:   2017-07-21 03:23 I have posted recently about my teacher, who was originally an oboe player, telling me to rinse my reeds/mouthpiece after I play. But I have more interesting/humorous question to ask you all. I somehow started off learning the clarinet with a double lip embouchure, although my teacher never told me to curl the upper lip, just the bottom lip. I played on double lip quite well. It wasn't until less than 2 years ago when I realized I was doing something that no one (or very few people) still does, since I observed that other people's mouthpiece cushions had teeth marks on them but mine were as smooth as a baby's behind LOL As of now, I can play with both double and single lip comfortably, although I still play double lip as default since it is more natural and I think it makes my sound warmer a bit. Now the Funny part: I have two oboe friends at my school who are going to be in the top band together for the first time. Last year a mere schedule conflict knocked one of them to a lower band, and saved a Huge Clash. Because they hate this intense hatred towards each other for some reason. Both vow to beat the other by getting first chair, but to be honest none of them actually practice and my teacher has taught both of them before and said it was a waste of time teaching them because they weren't that good to begin with and didn't practice. Given that my teacher was an oboe player and said my double lip was basically his oboe embouchure but on the clarinet, do you guys think learning the oboe would be not as difficult as most say, for me? If so, I plan to practice in my free time while still practicing clarinet and surprise them in chair auditions I still want to try oboe for the fun of it. -- Ray Zhang

Reply To Message

Re: FUNNY: Does double lip embouchure give me a decent Oboe embouchure?

Author: kdk  Date:   2017-07-21 04:43 zhangray4 wrote: > It > wasn't until less than 2 years ago when I realized I was doing > something that no one (or very few people) still does, Not really true. They just don't play double lip in your circle of band mates. There are lots of us double-lippers in the wider world of clarinet. > my teacher has taught both of them > before and said it was a waste of time teaching them because > they weren't that good to begin with and didn't practice. Not a really cool thing for a teacher to be doing - bad-mouthing students to other students (whatever he thinks of them). > Given > that my teacher was an oboe player and said my double lip was > basically his oboe embouchure but on the clarinet, do you guys > think learning the oboe would be not as difficult as most say, > for me? I think your teacher would be a pretty reliable judge of this. It seems to me there are plenty of woodwind doublers who play, among other things, both clarinet and oboe, so they aren't inherently in conflict. Your teacher plays both, so he should be a good resource for help about this. There are differences in approach between between single and double reeds other than just embouchure, but you can learn anything if you want to and you practice. > If so, I plan to practice in my free time while still > practicing clarinet and surprise them in chair auditions Do you mean you hope to beat both of them on oboe? If so, I'm not sold on your reason for wanting to do this, (humiliating friends isn't usually a good way to keep them friends) but as long as you keep your clarinet playing strong, it's not a bad idea at all to build an oboe technique. What isn't good is to flit from one instrument to another and never become really strong on any of them, which doesn't seem to be your plan. Karl

Reply To Message

Re: FUNNY: Does double lip embouchure give me a decent Oboe embouchure?

Author: kdk  Date:   2017-07-21 06:14 zhangray4 wrote: > but I guess there are a good > amount that play double lip? > Yes, and more than one major clarinetist who has said publicly that he wishes he could play double lip but can't for one of a number of reasons. > And no I'm not trying to make my friends mad or show off. I > just want to motivate them to practice, something my band > department lacks. If you want to motivate them to practice, you might have more success if you were open about what you're doing (if you do it). They won't be motivated if they don't know they're competing with you (if you actually were able to keep it secret, which you probably can't). But with a resource like a private teacher who is an experienced oboist, it seems like a great idea in itself for you to try oboe. And if you were to decide that you really like oboe, your playing prospects are far greater as an oboist. Clarinetists are a dime (or maybe even a nickel) a dozen. Good oboists are always in high demand. But watch out - Legere oboe reeds are a little more expensive than clarinet reeds. Karl

Reply To Message

Re: FUNNY: Does double lip embouchure give me a decent Oboe embouchure?

Author: zhangray4  Date:   2017-07-21 22:56 I think many misunderstood the humor behind my original post. It is true I want to try out the oboe. I like the sound of it. But it is unlikely that I will actually practice really hard on the oboe and beat them at audition. I'm still going to play the clarinet 95% of the time, audition on it in my school/honor bands. And I got college auditions to worry about too. I will probably play the audition pieces with them to motivate them to practice. ' It's supposed to be taken humorously, but I still want to play the oboe. Asking about how difficult it is to switch mainly. Don't worry I'm not being mean to my friends I put my mouthpiece upside down on the clarinet and played with the reed on top, using only upper lip to play. I could play pretty well on it, although I had to hold the clarinet parallel to the ground... This is why I am asking really... -- Ray Zhang

Reply To Message

Re: FUNNY: Does double lip embouchure give me a decent Oboe embouchure?

Author: zhangray4  Date:   2017-07-23 20:11 Hi all, thanks for your replies. Thank you for the helpful information on what it is like playing the oboe from a clarinetist perspective. Thank you for those who warned me of my arrogance to prevent me from getting into future troubles. I have to admit after reading what I wrote, I can understand how some of you may think I'm being arrogant. I apologize for that; I did not intend to appear arrogant, although it might have appeared to convey that tone. I was writing the post whimsically, and yes I guess I could have paid more attention by saying that "the oboes at my school practice less than the ideal amount, and are therefore lacking in certain aspects of their playing, such as technique, intonation, etc., in my opinion (which can be inaccurate), in my teacher's opinion, and in my Band Director's opinion. Thus I will attempt to practice the oboe and see if I can come close to playing at their level in order to attempt to entertain myself and motivate them by practicing certain pieces with them." Maybe I should have written my joke in this second version if some you guys feel the language of the joke reflects my character. But to be honest, I do not view the oboes as inferior to me. One of them is a senior that will probably get accepted into an IVY league school in fact. I appreciate every member in our band for coming this far. The year before I came into High School, our entire department had only 18 people; however, now we have over 150 members, some who even have a good shot of making the State Honor Band in my opinion. But still, I want to galvanize our band program to strive for quality, now that we have a lot of people in our department. It is impossible for me to spark a Great Awakening in our entire department. There are just those who don't give a [blank] for band and take it to fulfill the Visual Performing Arts credit in our Graduation requirements. But some, like my oboe friends, do like band, and music in general. I feel they just need some encouragement. One of them, in particular is a young talent who could beat the other senior even though she is only a sophomore. But I feel the moral need to help/encourage players in our band, especially young talent, since I think band members should help each other out in making the band be the best it can be. Perhaps my language in the original joke was arrogant. Perhaps I should have written the joke in the second version, if you still think it can be considered a joke. In order to maintain the quality of the joke, it may have been too blunt. But what some of you are saying about my character, I feel, is inaccurate. But you have the right to disagree. Just like we all have different interpretations of any given piece, you can have your own interpretation of my original post: as a simplified and condensed joke so I don't have to belabor upon every detail, or as an arrogant and derogatory comment that looks condescendingly upon my friends so that I can rid their friendship. I'll leave it to you to decide -- Ray Zhang

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here

User Login  User Name:  Password:  Remember my login:

Forgot Your Password? Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.