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Embouchure help

Author: clarinet50
Date: 2019-10-21 05:02

I had crooked teeth for many, many years. and the biggest frustration was that the upper right front tooth went behind the left which resulted in me having nothing but one point of the right tooth against the mouthpiece cushion. Within weeks that tooth would cut through the cushion. So, at age 59 (I'm now 65) I decided to do something about it. And off I went to do the Invisalign thing.

Now more of the lower edge of the top front teeth come into contact with he mouthpiece (not completely, but much more that when I started).

The problem is that ever since having this done, my cheeks cramp up not all to long after playing a lot of tongued passages. Practicing more doesn't seem to help much. If I want to play for an extended period, I have to stop after 30-40 minutes and resume hours later. If I doodle to much ahead of a band concert, I pray that my embouchure will hold out for the duration of the performance.

I've been using a Vandoren M13 mouthpiece for about 10 years with various makes/models of no 4 strength reeds. I really like the centered , 'woody' sound that I get. I have tried a few other mouthpieces that I've purchased over the years (most with small tip openings), but so far the M13 seems the best for me, tone wise.

Any suggestions?

I've read some hype about the newer Vandoren BD5, which has a much larger tip opening. I hate to just go off an buy one, plus, that would requiring me putting aside the approximately 15 boxes of reeds that I have, thanks to great prices found on ebay and a touch of OCD. With the BD5, they suggest nothing more than a 3 1/2. Not sure where I could even try one for a extended period of time. And from other things that I have read, a larger opening doesn't automatically translate to it being less taxing.

I realize that I have been extremely elaborate in my write-up, but the devil is in the details.

Thanks again

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