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Re: Double Lip Chapter 2

Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2021-09-24 16:48

Hi SecondTry,

I just tried an experiment to see if I could find a happy middle ground between double lip and single lip. I wondered if I could tell you about it, in case we can work stuff out better if we put our heads together?

The thing is, I like double lip, because it stops me biting and gives me the nice tone, and helps a huge amount with crossing the break legato. On the other hand, it gets really crazy when I try to play this progression, with Bb in the middle:

[A5]

That's because when I get to the top C, I have only my left thumb holding the clarinet and the thumb isn't pressing the instrument against my top teeth, so the instrument moves up, the thumb hole fails to close, and the note fails to sound properly.

So I tried putting my top teeth back on the mp, and then I was biting. Then I wondered if I could stop the biting by taking my bottom teeth off the mp. This was me trying the advice that Ken Lagace gave, but lifting the lower teeth rather than the upper ones.

I just used my lip to brace the reed, instead of my teeth, which I think is the whole point of what I'm meant to be doing, at least as all the books say it. That really forced my muscles to engage, but in a totally different way from when I do double lip.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but it feels as though I'm doing what people are suggesting, when they say to use double lip practise to strengthen single lip techniqiue. I wondered if I could ask what you think?

I just came back to playing today after a long post-covid break, so I'm looking at the whole thing through fresh eyes, which I think perhaps is helpful for me.

Thanks!

Jen

Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Soprano Sax American Cut #2, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.

Post Edited (2021-09-24 16:50)

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Double Lip Chapter 2 new

SecondTry

2021-09-21 01:25