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Re: Portnoy on Embouchure

Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-17 17:51

Thanks Seabreeze
I reviewed those videos and a few others. I have very thin outer lips so it is difficult to play on the edge. I also have crooked teeth and an offset jaw from a childhood car accident. To keep the clarinet centered and level I developed a large offset lump in the flesh below the outer lip.It is offset to the left, about half an inch thick and an inch and a half long. With all the recent experimentation that lump has almost disappeared already. It was quite a surprise to learn I no longer need that pillow to center the clarinet.It is also a surprise to learn that I can control the movement and stability of the clarinet without tooth pressure.During the past 5 years of playing I must have deveoped much stronger lip and mouth muscles. Inthe past I have noticed the use of muscles for special effects quite often. The biggest problem so far is needing much more air.In the past my brain would run out of oxygen before my lungs ran out of air. I could play well over a minute on a single breath. It is also taking much more pressure to play with only lip pressure. After 6 short notes I am out of air.The few notes I have produced so far seem to be more appealing.
In the past I have experimented with the mouthpiece upside down and offset up to 30 degrees. During the first few weeks I learned to play with the mouthpiece offset by about 20 degrees due to crooked teeth and offset jaw. I overcame those issues with the pillow I mentioned earlier. The only experiment I haven't tried yet is a boxers tooth protector over the upper teeth .I need a thick pad on the upper mouthpiece to keep one crooked tooth from grinding a hole in it.

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Portnoy on Embouchure new

Windy Dreamer

2018-11-16 21:40