 The Clarinet BBoard
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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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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-10-21 05:37
I'm not sure I completely understand your new dental alignment or what its effect is on your embouchure. It's possible that you're trying to align your jaw based to the way your top teeth feel on the mouthpiece, but the mouthpiece isn't really where it needs to be to have balanced muscle activity on both sides of your jaw, that you're skewing to one side or the other to accommodate what you feel with your top teeth. I haven't thought specifically about where the top and bottom teeth land when I play, but my teeth are basically straight. The important thing about your alignment on the mouthpiece is that the muscles in your lips close evenly around the mouthpiece.
I'm having a little trouble imagining what could be causing your cheeks to cramp (as opposed to your lips near where they contact the mouthpiece). Maybe you could expand on exactly where you feel the cramping and what you feel is actually producing the pain. I've never felt (but maybe I'm just not paying attention to them) as though my cheeks were actively involved in forming my embouchure. Are your cheeks puffing out? Or would they if you weren't doing something deliberately to keep them from puffing out?
Whatever is going on, I doubt very much if a change of mouthpiece is going to solve the problem. Finding a more natural, unforced way to form your lips around the mouthpiece seems like it will be more helpful.
Also, if you're trying in any way for any reason to drop your jaw in an exaggerated way (i.e. to produce more opening inside your mouth), you may be straining your facial muscles.
One way to find an unforced, natural lip shape is to try a double lip embouchure to see whether it improves your control. Your upper lip will get tired or even sore very quickly, so it isn't going to be instant comfort or give you immediately improved endurance. But it the approach works well for a short spurt when you're not tired and your cheeks don't yet feel crampy, you can then try to reproduce the same shape with your upper teeth on the mouthpiece. One thing double lip may do is make you a little less aware of exactly where your top teeth are in the process.
Karl
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2019-10-21 05:48
While reading your question, I was going to mention that a mouthpiece change may not help and to try double lip.
Then ready to write, I see kdk beat me to it.
If double lip is a struggle, and I encourage you to give it a good try, another way would be to just lift the top teeth off the mouthpiece.
Experiments with more or less mouthpiece inside your mouth also may give you hints about what is really wrong.
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Author: paulyb
Date: 2019-10-21 14:59
I'd suggest coming down a half or even whole reed strength while you're getting used to the new oral configuration rather than changing from a mouthpiece you've presumably been happy with for the last ten years.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-10-21 18:51
Well people say I have a good sound. Newspapers too often comment after performances and these people are Music Critics. Often hated and yet loved.
So I'm bothered by what you wrote, because I feel your approach to your embouchure is wrong. " Within weeks that tooth would cut through the cushion." Let's get you fixed up and your lower lip probably hurts sometimes too, maybe even gets cut or worse it bleeds. Not a problem.
Wearing out a patch should never happen this fast, in a year or 2. You are biting and it's simply wrong. So lets develop a new approach maybe and learn not to bite and develop a new type of carefully constructed embouchure. It's actually easy.
I too think you are using too strong of a reed. I also suggest a double lip embouchure.
For a few weeks this will be wicked hard. But play long tones using a double lip and try taking in as much mouthpiece as you can until you literally squeak. Yes I want you to Squeak! scare the neighbors cat! Have fun! Then back the mouthpiece off just a tiny bit. This is about the ideal area. Yes you will slip back to your old embouchure so recheck and maybe not squeak the next time unless you hate cats! This approach lets the whole reed vibrate. My guess is you were using less mouthpiece and you are trying to control the reed too much so we all bite doing this. It's surprising how many people bite! I'd say over 90 percent of players don't put enough mouthpiece in their mouths so the results are always a slight biting problem to a major problem.
Don't go crazy. Only do this a few minutes per hour at first, because it's actually a shock to your embouchure. play the long tones softly the first week or 2 and look into a mirror and see where the mouthpiece is at. Try each day to place it in this same position because you will start to not bite anymore.
After the first week try to start the long tones soft, then to FFF > PPP. This will start building your upper lip muscles and there should never be any pain. Start off ppp if you encounter any form of pain. Always listen to your sound. Maybe tape yourself. Then visit your sound by take again in 3 months, 5 months, and in a year. You won't be the same player and no more holes in patches.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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