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Re: Embouchure Jaw Position

Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-04-16 12:56

I have found that I prefer the sound of clarinetists who overbite. I also prefer my sound when I overbite.

I also noticed that there are a lot of things that should work together to make it work. At least in my case. And everything below is how things work for me.

First is the head position. The head should be held naturally upright. There is an old saying smth like "Don't head down for the mouthpiece, bring the clarinet up to you".

The next thing is a clarinet angle. It should be held about 30-40 angle from the body. There is another saying smth like "tip of the mouthpiece should be behind the top teeth not under the teeth."

The next thing is the jaw's alignment. If I form an embouchure and blow I blow rather down than forward. Like I want to cool down and blow under my t-shirt, or try to cool down a hot cup of coffee that I hold under my lips with my head held upright. So bottom teeth are behind top teeth (overbiting).

Then I insert the mouthpiece and start blowing. But there is no sound as there is not enough pressure in the reed. Then I have to apply pressure. I can apply it down the reed, or forward, but these two are underbiting. So I realized that I apply pressure rather up or up and forward (so I don't lose overbiting).

Definitely, it goes somewhat against the common understanding that pressure from your bottom teeth should be at the point where the facing curve separates from the reed. It's a place where I put my bottom lip but the pressure is applied not perpendicular to this point but rather up diagonally.

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