 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clair
Date: 2002-11-14 22:24
Hi! I play clarinet and bassoon in my high school band. Recently I have become involved with the pit orchestra for our upcoming play on bassoon. So, my entire life now consists of playing bassoon with the orchestra. So---aaack!! I can feel my clarinet embouchure going fast! This is very, very bad--I cannot afford to sound bad on clarinet now, but I hardly have any time to practice clarinet anymore! What can I do? I need help now...my embouchure is leaving me--fast! Thanks so much for any advice!
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Author: William
Date: 2002-11-14 23:33
I know a few players that double on clarinet and bassoon and seem to have no difficulty "losing" their embouchures. Perhaps the clarinet embouchure you are using is too firm (use hard reeds??) and you should consider getting more upper lip pressure involved rather than just "bite." Spend some time using souble lip on your clarinet and see how your tone quality and pich control improve. You may have to experiment with a softer, but more responsive, reed. Then, see if you can transfer some of that DL feeling into the conventional (which I am assuming you use) embouchure with less pressure exerted by your upper teeth, but rather by your upper lip. Bassoon may feel more relaxed, but if you are "doing it right" your oral muscles should still be getting an adequate workout to maintain your clarinet "chops." Doubling on the bassoon will be an advantage for you and expand your "playing horizans." BTW--have you learned the sax and flute as well??
(my old college professor used to say, "If you had time to sleep last night, you had time to practice your clarinet.")
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-11-14 23:55
Yes well - I'm sure you professor's tongue was firmly planted in his cheek.
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