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Re: Portnoy on Embouchure

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-11-17 00:48

Windy Dreamer wrote:

> Is minimal lip really the key to mastery of color and character
> of tone ?

1st of all, what actual wording did he use to describe what "minimal lip" means? Where and when was the article published (could we access it somehow)? What do *you* mean by "minimal?"

> Do most modern teachers even care about color and
> character of tone ?

Yes, among other things.

> Based on my short experiment it is tempting
> to abandon maximal lip in favor of minimal lip.I do not think
> it is possible to play both ways.

I can't imagine, either, that you take in both a lot and nearly no lip at the same time. But on a more practical track, is there not a middle ground, where you aren't swallowing your lip down to your chin but are using enough to cushion the reed?

You might use your ears to judge the *most appropriate* amount of lip to take in *for you.* Teachers make recommendations (or should) based on the needs of the individual student they're working with. A good teacher listens, diagnoses the student's strengths and weaknesses, and then offers solutions to problems that underlie the weaknesses and ways to maximize the strengths.

BTW, the student with the tuner in her lap or clipped to her clarinet while she plays is misguided. These players aren't "in tune" with anything except the pitch standard. While they're staring at the tuner's display they aren't paying attention to the music, the conductor or the other players in the ensemble. A player needs to be in tune with the existing musical environment - the other players - in real time.

Karl

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Portnoy on Embouchure new

Windy Dreamer

2018-11-16 21:40