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Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-01-20 02:36

I just got back from my Mid-State concert today Just like All-State, you cram at least sixteen hours of almost nonstop playing into a day and a half, and then you still have the concert.

Doe sanyone know how I can relieve the stress from my lips? I seem to have run out of chapstick anyway.

Also, I don't want a cure for the symptom, I want a cure for the cause. How can I build endurance, so that I don't come out mouthsore?

Does anyone know of any exercises? Or even remedies for the aftermath? I heard diaper-rash cream works as well as the Vitamin-E tablets...

I'm joking.

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: HAT
Date: 2002-01-20 03:58

There isn't any cure other than regular practice of scales and etudes.

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: Kat
Date: 2002-01-20 04:13

There was the time in undergrad when I practiced, rehearsed, and played for about 12 hours in one day. My lip started bleeding in a rehearsal at 11:30 p.m. I was playing for several hours every day too. There's a limit to everything.

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: Andge
Date: 2002-01-20 04:56

I posted a similar question a few months ago.

Check the answers in this link:

http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=60144&t=60144

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: Jill
Date: 2002-01-20 13:12

I used to use thin plastic sheets that I folded over my bottom teeth. They saved my lips during high school and college. My teeth, now, they used to hurt worse than my lips!

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: William
Date: 2002-01-20 15:33

There is probably no other solution except long hours of playing--practice or performance--to strengthen your embouchure and increase endurance. On thing I would recommend, however, is to spend some time--perhaps five to ten minutes--at the start of each practice (or performance warm-up) using double lip embouchure. One secrete to reducing the "bite" of the lower teeth is to strengthen your lip muscles and learn to rely more on them for support and less on your lower teeth. Practicing double lip embouchure--even if you do not use it exclusivly in performance--helps you to learn to use less bite and more lip in supporting your reeds sound. I like to think of this as simply getting more upper lip pressure involved in your embouchure. You may also discover that you can use slightly softer reeds and still get that "big sound" and extended range, and take a lot more pressure off of your lower lip in terms of "bite." Try it for a while and, Good Clarineting!!!!!!!! with much more comfort.

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RE: Mid/All-State and endurance

Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-01-20 21:11

Thanks.

William, I noticed that when I'm playing the bass clarinet and below occasionaly I'll switch to double-lip for a few minutes without even realizing it. It does seem to help.

Jill, one girl I knew with braces put plumber's tape over her bottom teeth during marching season to help relieve the pain. Other people I know use wax.

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