The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-01-15 06:40
I agree with the above posts. Often the upper lip isn't used properly when playing with a single lip. I can tell right away when someone asks me to reface their mouthpieces and I see dents in the beak of the mouthpieces from teeth marks. They will never achieve a nice clarinet sound.
I'd try long tones, going back to basics, low E, those notes as warm ups and use a bit more mouthpiece than usual. almost to the point of when you squeak, then back off. This is about the correct position for double lip playing.
When playing long tones you will most likely need to change your embouchure almost a feeling of lowering your upper lip down towards your lower lip which makes changes the bite. You are now not biting. So when playing these notes be very aware of not biting the upper lip and if you do, Stop. Take a break and try it again.
From past posts people know that I like to use a small mirror on the music stand. This is imperative when making a major change, such as an embouchure change.
When doing this do it slowly. Not suddenly convert. When playing these long tones your upper muscles should get tired, not sore. I'd give yourself a few months.
Some players like Robert Marcellus played single lip, then went to a double lip, then went back to a single lip after several years. He felt that as long as your upper lip muscles were working correctly he was fine with either double or single lip playing.
He sat next to Iggie Gennusa with the National Symphony and Iggie played with a double lip. He also probably had the most beautiful sound you ever heard, so Bob decided to try it. Well it worked. Bob also had an amazing sound. I worked, studied with both, mainly with Iggie for 7 years, and he clearly had the better sound. I'm not the only person who felt this way. However it doesn't matter. Bob Marcellus surely got the job done and became one of the greatest.
I just noticed Tom's post. He studied with Iggie Gennusa too, not sure how long though. Listen to Tom on his youtube recordings. A very nice sound. One day I'll put some stuff up. I think Tom would agree with me about taking in as much mouthpiece as you can until you squeak, then back off. This was one of Iggie's techniques.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2018-01-17 08:01)
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rgoldem |
2018-01-14 15:45 |
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kdk |
2018-01-14 18:17 |
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Joseph Brenner, Jr. |
2018-01-14 19:02 |
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Tom Puwalski |
2018-01-15 05:19 |
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Re: double lip embouchure and soft reeds new |
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Bob Bernardo |
2018-01-15 06:40 |
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