 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Andge
Date: 2001-11-11 11:21
Hi,
I was recently invited to play at a special Honor Band Festival where the best players at different schools would come together for one weekend practice for hours on end and then perform on the last night. However, it requires almost eight to ten hours of non-stop clarinet playing for three days. By the last day my lip was so tired that I just almost 'faked' the whole practice and even parts of the performace. I sure I'll have to do this again soon, and I would like any suggestions to help me improve my endurance. I want to know how to last longer when you are asked to play practically non-stop for days. I heard things like tape or cigar wrapping help is it true? And if so how do you use it? Thank you.
Andge
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Author: eilidh
Date: 2001-11-11 13:20
i use two cigarette papers folded up and put them over my teeth ......once they are fitted there they can last for a couple of hours or so i find and that really helps my lip.........i have used it when away on courses particularly when im playing sax as well........i find that sax playing hurts my lip more than clarinet playing and in a very short space of time too
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-11-11 14:38
Most of it has to do with your embouchure tiring because you're not used to playing so long. You can try training your embouchure to be able to handle longer periods of play. Once your embouchure goes, your teeth are much more likely to cut your lip. Another way of helping... I've used it for years, is to play with a cushion on your teeth to prevent the cutting. I use EZO denture cushion (not to be confused with denture tape) and you can get it from the supermarket. You cut it up into little 1" by 1" strips and mold it over your teeth (bending it with hot water first helps). It takes about 10 minutes to feel normal, but you can take it out and reuse it for a long time. It's a lot thicker than cigarette paper, which I have found to be extremely to thin for me. It's been a huge help for me.
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-11-11 16:08
Instead of faking a whole rehersal why not just take a few smaller breaks a day. I have been in those situations, and by just sitting there for a whole day you miss a lot. Even if you are still paying attention and everything. But hey, after the weekend, your regular rehersals will go by very fast!
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Author: William
Date: 2001-11-11 16:35
With regular practice, your embouchure should gain strength and your endurance times should increase. What happens is that as your lip and mouth muscles become stronger, you rely more on them to support the reed that your lower teeth and actually use a more "double lip" embouchre for the bottom lip. That reduces the "cutting" effect that you experiance when your lips become fatigued and you must start relying on your lower teeth to support the reed. So, just keep up the regular practice starting with a few minutes of long tones--pp to ff to pp--followed by playing through all the major and minor scales (diatonic and thirds) and arpeggios. Accuracy at a steady tempo shoud be your objective, not speed. The Klose Complete has a good collection of these various scale and chord excersises. Then practice your lesson and the music that you need to learn. Practice time??--one to two hours a day ought to do it, once you have established your "routine." That should leave plenty of time for homework and cleaning your room--but while studying and cleaning, don't forget to listen to some good music. Establishing a good "auditory library" from which to withdraw guidence in your own performances is also important. However--and FYIO--I once was hired to play the tenor sax book for the Barnum and Bailey Circus's local series of performances which, at that time, had a show that ran 2 hrs and 29 mins of non-stop playing--one tune, immediate segue to the next clown or elephant act! We actually looked forward to two measure rests for relief. I had not been practicing as regularly as usual and our show schedule was a Tr show, two shows on Fr, three shows on Sat and two on Sun. By the third Sat show, I was resorting to putting empty sugar packets from the concession stand over my lower teeth to avoid bitting into my lip. I developed large cold sores on my upper and lower lips and by the last Sun show, my upper teeth actually became so loosened that I could move them. Had I been "in shape" this playing marathon would have been at least tolerable (I could never call it enjoyable) As it was, it was a good week after the last performance before my cold sores and tooth conditions improved and I could resume normal playing activities--all because I had not kept up my normal practice schedule and let my embouchure grow weak. So, Bottom Line--PRACTICE REGULARLY and INTELLIGENTLY, and Good Clarineting!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Carmen Izzo
Date: 2001-11-12 01:40
let me just say,never apply bengay to sooth sore facial muscles from hours of practice. Bad experience ;^)
~Carmen
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Author: Stephanie
Date: 2001-11-12 04:11
OH my gosh Carmen lol! If it's your hands and wrists that get tired, like me, all I can say is to just take short brakes while the director is working with a different section. And make sure that you don't slouch. I tend to do that cuz I can't see my music too well. If you can't get hold of cigarette rolling paper, just use a regular piece of notebook paper folded up. I have also heard of people using duck tape, sports tape, or even dinchures (sp?) somehow, dunno about that one really. Eventually you'll get used to playing for so long tho.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-12 04:42
Andge -
The advice above suggesting regular practice periods is right on.
Ages and ages ago, when I was in a military (marching-concert) band, we played/practiced *about* six hours a day, five days a week, sometimes six. Rehearsal time was about two hours (required). Following morning rehearsal, no one was required to practice beyond their current endurance level. In fact, they were advised not to. A strain could put a person out of commission. Some of us, however, would also go into town occassionally and jam with the locals - just playing for the fun of it. So, we probably could have played all day and all night. I mean, I don't know that anyone *did* play all day and all night, no one was eager to set or break any records. We were just in good condition that way. Playing instruments, making music, is what we did - it was our job. The point is that if you work up to it your endurance naturally increases. A dramatic and sudden increase as you describe, without preparing for it could truly be quite harmful to the chops.
We know that young folks recover faster but it's something you might not wish to flirt with in the future. If you need an aid, you're overdoing it.
- ron b -
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Author: Andge
Date: 2001-11-12 13:42
Thanks for the suggestions.. I'll see if I could get more time for practicing!
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Author: C@p
Date: 2001-11-12 18:35
I use a product called Bay Lip Ease that is a folded strip of mylar or plastic like material that is about 2 and 1/4 inches wide.
To use it you unfold what you need and then fold over the part of the strip you are going to use twice to make it three times its thickness. I fold it over at least 3 times for a four fold thickness because my bottom teeth are kind of unsmooth with the aging process.
I cut it into thirds with a small folding scissors that stores in the middle of the unfolded strip and secure it with a rubber band so the scissors does not come out in the case during transit.
I only cut off 1/3 of the width to start and cut the remainig strips so they are just hanging by a small piece of material so I can quickly pull off a new guard without haveing to get the scissors our and so the maerial does not pull out of shape as it resists separation.
Much of what I write might not be understood unless you get the product and work with it a while.
When playing to the extent that my teeth cut beyond the ability of Lip Ease to protect my lip, I take a strip of Kleenex and fold it over to make a pad. This takes some practice as the absorent tissue tends to stick to your tounge or lip until you get the right moisture content in it and figure out how many times to fold it over. But it is a very good cushion. I put this over the Lip Ease guard.
I find that using a guard, and differing its thickness in various ways and combinatiojns, can causes a difference on how you can feel and control the reed and how it responds and sonetimes takes a few minites to figure out how to adjust. But it adds hours of good playing time with little or no lip soreness the next day.
International Music Suppliers (Music Starts Here), 681 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60016, Phone: 1-847-803-8464 or 1-888-762-1116, http://musicstartshere.com/ currently has Bay Lip Ease for $6.00
and
Quinlan And Fabish Music Company, 630-654-4111 or 800-63-SOUSA, http://www.qandf.com/, 166 Shore Drive, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60521
carry tooth guard products Bumper from Morgan and Brace Guard for about $20per pack. Just about any drug store should carry the folding scissors.
C@p
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-11-12 21:34
Like a marathon runner, you've got to work up gradually playing longer periods to develop those "work horse chops". One of the drawbacks for me is since building up steel chops over the years, regardless if my sessions are 2 to 8 hours long and 4 or 5 full sets it routinely takes me at least 30 minutes to fully warm up. This at times is a major inconvenience since I either have to show up to gigs extra early and play alot (usually a whole hour until I'm "completely" loose) or take the time to warm up at home. Also, going into as early as the 4th hour my fingers begin breaking down and loose they're elasticity. Only rest will get it back.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2001-11-13 05:14
I think that EZO is the simplest solution for a marathon day. Get #15 Lower Heavy from any Wal-Mart.
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Author: Paul
Date: 2001-11-13 22:09
I want to thank Ashley for the EZO denture cushion suggestion for my bottom teeth. It worked great! I'm a returning clarinet player after 20 years and I haven't been able to play for more than 1/2 hour. My bottom inside lip was getting ripped apart and would not heal. Well, after reading her suggestion I went to the drug store at 10PM last night and put the stuff over a small part of my bottom teeth and played for an hour with absolutely no pain during or after. Thanks again!!!
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