 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Taryn
Date: 2001-10-15 21:59
I have been having an embrechure(sp?) probem for quite a long time. When I start playing an etude or passage without many rests, my sound an articulation seem very good. But after even one or two minutes of constant playing, my mouth gets fatigued and the courners of it can no longer stay pushed inward, to create an equal circle of pressure around the mpce. Instead, the corners sort of 'hook' downward into a frown (making the tone sound thiner). Because of this fatigue, my mouth is too tired to force the corners back up and inward again. I stop after this occurs and wrest for 30 seconds or so and start again with no problem until my mouth is tired again. After having this problem for several months, tring to build up these muscles in my mouth, I would think that the problem would at least get slightly better.
I am also hesitant to continue playing while feeling this burn in my embrechure, because my mouth compensates for the pain by frowning. I can't adequately bring the corners back up, and I am afraid to continue practicing with the pain because of possibly developing the 'frowning' muscles. This problem has frusterated me and my teacher and I would appreciate any help, especially if you have/had this problem as well, or have students with this problem.
I have been on a B40 mpce for 3 years and currently use traditional vandoren (3) reeds. I recently switched from the V12 to tratitional because my tone became thinner/brighter with the V12s. I now am pleased with my tone using traditionals, until my mouth gets tired.
I would *REALLY* appreciate any help. Thank you very much.
tarynone@usc.edu
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-15 22:02
I think you could use a 2 1/2 Vandoren on this mouthpiece. That might help you.
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Author: Help
Date: 2001-10-15 23:12
Hi is this the same Taryn from Idyllwild? It's Suzanne from Idyllwild. I have had a very similar problem, which I have managed to improve (though not completely get rid of) over the past couple of years. Why don't you e-mail me? (Click on my name.) The first thing I would say is, do NOT push yourself if you feel burning! The second thing I would say is, focus on the wind and de-emphasize the embouchure. More wind, less embouchure. If you start feeling fatigued, check how you are doing with your wind. Finally, I would say, keep things relaxed. Tension (and not just in your embouchure, but in the rest of your whole body, too) is the feeding channel for fatigue. Anyway, write me and I can tell you more about what helped me. For a while I could hardly play at all (maybe 5 min. at a time!) but now I can do two good 2-hr. practice sessions in one day as long as I rest in between.
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2001-10-15 23:19
My teacher has me practice 12ths which is a great thing for strengthening the muscles that shape your embochure. First set the metronome to 4 beats at 60 or less. Starting with low E, play a whole note. Then hit the register key so you're playing a B natural just above the break, for another whole note, then let go of the register key and play another whole note of low E. Then rest for 4 beats. Then, move up half a step to F, and repeat the same process - 3 whole notes, first without the register key, second with it, and third without it. The goal is to be able to do this entire exercise up the chromatic scale one octive to F, and then back down again. To get the most out of this exercise, you need to concentrate on keeping your airway coming through strong but controlled. Also, it helps to have a tuner in front of you while you play these long whole notes to make sure your intonation is correct.
In the beginning, this will be sheer agony on your mouth muscles and breath control. Then it gets easier. When you get to the point that you can go up and down again, set the metronome lower.
Right now, I do it with the metronome set at about 48, and by the time I get back down to where I started, I really feel the burn in my muscles! Only do this at the end of your practice session, because you'll not be able to play after that until the next day.
It's amazing how much this exercise has improved my playing. I squeek much less in the altissimo, and overall my intonation and quality of sound is much better than before.
Hope this helps.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-10-15 23:25
This might also indicate tension, Taryn, and that's just no fun... No fun at all. Playing music should be fun.
Do you try any kind of relaxation before and while you're playing? Do you do a warm up procedure? Maybe you're just plain ol' Tryin' Too Hard. Try making a mental note before you get into your next playing session -- [ RELAX ] -- then lighten up
Tension can and will cause all kinds of performance difficulties. Ask any athlete.
- ron b -
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Author: Julia Meyer
Date: 2001-10-15 23:45
your embouchure sounds weak--well, thats what you're having trouble with. However when you practice, you're using air and thinking about the music etc... After not having played for several months last year I experienced the same problem. I could only play maybe 2 etudes before experiencing what you have described. To combat that, I just practiced my embouchure all the time w/o playing. Just walking around, or doing work, and keeping my mouth in the position --obviously relaxing it every so often. I found that after about 3 weeks my embouchure was back to normal. Then I just had to work on breath support....but you can use the same idea. Then, you can put it all together and start practicing like normal again.
Anytime you find difficulty in something, break your task down so you're not concentrating on as many aspects. Then, when you're ready you can put it all together.
Good luck!
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2001-10-16 23:53
I don't know if this helps but when I go to a Vandoren profile 88 mouthpiece, it really cuts down on fatigue for me rather than the traditional shape.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-10-17 22:27
I've wrested/rested? with this long enough. It's embouchure, not approximate variations thereof. Can't we take our art seriously enough to make sure we spell it right? Does anyone care?
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Author: Taryn
Date: 2001-10-18 02:03
Oh, I must be in the wrong message board. I thought this was a clarinet forum, and
not the national online spelling bee.
Beejay, I must tell you that your comment was offensive and unnecessary. I made
spelling errors in my post. So what? Please tell me what my spelling ability has to do
with how serious I take the art.
At this time, I feel that I could not take music any more seriously than I do now. I am
as dedicated to music and the clarinet as I possibly can be, had to be this way to get
into undergrad music school, and must be if I want to "make it" in this field. I feel you
have no right to make the assumption that I or "we" do not take our art seriously. In short, I simply love the clarinet and making music, is that not serious enough?
Thanks for reading.
tarynone@usc.edu
Oh, btw, I used spell-check for you this time.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-10-18 14:48
beejay, as I've mentioned numerous times, please refrain from pointing out spelling errors. Rather, just correct the errors when replying to post.
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Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-10-18 16:18
You're right Mark, proper spelling can be learned here by posting correct spelling to be read. I often perform great "typos" or to my horror realize that I've spelled something very wrongly by simply placing my fingers on the wrong keys on a keyboard!
Taryn, I had a problem with ebouchure fatigue years ago. I believe that for me it was related to general fatigue and stress. I then began to use the double-lip embouchure, and it greatly helped my endurance and aided me in reliance on breath support.
Good luck! Let us all know how you are doing!
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