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What is going on here? (Embouchure)

Author: suavkue
Date: 2010-12-11 15:12

So...

I'll refer back to these threads for reference:

1) http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=339643&t=339643&v=f

2) http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=338169&t=338094

#1 is the most recent and the one I'll probably refer to the most.

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So, the thing is, I decided to try opening my throat this last Thursday, which was the last time I saw my clarinet professor before the jury examinations (which I will be doing) on Tuesday. I was playing my scales, and he noted that I sounded the "best that [I] ha[d] sounded" during this whole semester on that Thursday.

I told him that I had another embouchure change. This is probably the... 6th or 7th time I've done something to my embouchure this semester. I told him that I started opening my throat.

What baffled both of us was that he teaches otherwise, according to Ridenour's articles - "hissing" position, close the throat, etc. I was playing like this for a month, but I felt there was something lacking in my tone - something missing.

I decided to talk to one of the principal clarinetists about it - she told me that I needed to open my throat (see thread #1), and I was surprised, since I've been taught closing my throat isn't good. (In high school, I was taught that opening the throat should only be restricted to throat tones, but I never really caught on to that habit unless someone specifically told me so.)

I've been trying to figure out what opening my throat has done to my sound, and I've been blowing in this new way - it seems that my airflow is faster and more focused than with the "hiss" method, but my professor warned me that I may be playing the clarinet as I should be for saxophone. I do make sure that my throat isn't opened so much so that my tongue cannot be in the "key" position - if I notice I open my throat that much, I change it.

So my questions are:

1) Is there a correct answer to this embouchure deal?
2) Am I digging myself into a hole - and will eventually be sounding like a saxophone?
3) The throat should be closed - the throat should be open - which is correct? I contacted Tom Ridenour by my professor's request; he stated that

... an open throat--the term is ambiguous. I'm personally against forcing the throat open, for it always creates an unfocused tone.
Many refer to the soft palate mistakenly as the "throat."
The soft palate should be lifted somewhat, as it is when you are yawning---think of a mild yawn with your mouth closed and you'll have some idea of the position of the soft palate.

4) What is this "soft palate" that Ridenour refers to?

Thanks everyone.

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My current equipment:
Ridenour Lyrique 576BC, Rico Reserve 4, Ridenour Hand Finished Mouthpiece, Luyben Ligature

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