 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lis Mott
Date: 2007-01-06 14:56
Greetings fellow clarinet players,
I just recently received (in November) a clarinet as a gift from my in-laws after they had learned that I had been wanting to get one for a while. I played clarinet for three-years in school (Grades 7 to 9) and loved it. I even had my own, as my aunt had given me hers when I had started playing. But just as Grade 9 finished in June somebody stole my clarinet (as well as several of the school's instruments) from the music room and I never played again - much to my disappointment.
Anyway, to make a long story short, 17 years later I am now in possession of another clarinet. And I was amazed at how much I actually remembered. I could play without squeaking from the first day and remembered almost all the notes. The only frustrating thing I'm experiencing now is the annoying tired/sore muscles in my mouth that come after about 15 to 20 minutes of playing. Not being a beginner I'm eager to play longer than that at a shot and find it very frustrating when in the middle of a song my mouth will suddenly give out and refuse to form around the mouthpiece. I noticed someone saying in a previous post that this goes away with time, but can anybody give me an idea of how long I have to endure this? It's getting a little better as I go, but I find it very unsatisfying to get my clarinet all put together and ready only to be putting it away 20 minutes later! It's been 20 years since I started playing the first time, so I can't remember how long it took me to get my muscles to cooperate.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Lis Mott
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-06 15:14
Lis,
when you're practicing daily in 15-minute-chunks, your poor mouth should be in pretty good shape after two or three weeks. (my own experience)
Don't overdo it - you can pull the grass but it won't grow any faster...
--
Ben
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Author: kilo
Date: 2007-01-06 15:19
I think a few more weeks and you'll have built your chops up again. Don't let your frustration dampen your ardor for practicing because practice is, of course, the key to a good embouchure. You might try two short practice sessions a day, morning and evening. Also, during the day, flex your mouth and lip muscles, pulling them back into a "smile" and then relaxing; do this maybe 50 to 100 times. Congratulations on getting back into clarinet playing again. I pretty much stopped after taking up tenor sax. A few years ago I was asked to do a sax/clarinet double in a pit band and started playing clarinet again -- took a while to get it back but now it is very satisfying.
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Author: Lis Mott
Date: 2007-01-07 16:14
Thank you for the help and the suggestion of trying two shorter sessions. I will certainly try that.
Sincerely,
Lis Mott
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-01-08 12:55
Lis, don't get discouraged. Your lip will return. It won't be long until you're able to play 30 min. at a time and then before you know it you'll be up to an hour. If there is a group you could play with, such as a community band, that would be a good way to get motivated to practice and play more. Congratulations on getting a new instrument.
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Author: msboyd13
Date: 2007-01-08 17:11
Lis
I too started playing clarinet after a 25 year hiatus.... My sister gave me a clarinet for my 40th birthday in November. I too could remember most notes and didn't squeak very much right from the start. Embouchure is another question... and I'm slowly improving it thanks to help from my teacher (I immediately started with private lessons and that has made a huge difference). During the first month I could only play for about 20 minutes before my lips and mouth got incredibly tired. I'm now up to about an hour.... I just came back from and hour and a quarter jam session with my teacher and that went quite smoothly. So I would agree with what the others have said.
Enjoy.
Michael
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Author: scott kurtzweil
Date: 2007-01-08 17:28
Hello Lis,
I have found in my own playing and that of my students that it is not always what or how long you are playing but how you are practicing it. I recommend getting a copy of the Klose low register exercises. Practice these at the softest dynamic level you can while still maintaining a good core sound. Be sure to concentrate on good air focus and a strong top lip.
Doing this every day for 10 to 20 minutes will not only make you strong quickly, it will also increase the center and ring in your sound.
A good, non-clarinet way to strengthen your chops is to hold a pen or pen shaped object with your lips not allowing it to touch your teethe. Its a great isometric work-out for your chops and you can do it almost anywhere.
Best of Luck - Scott Kurtzweil
Scott Kurtzweil
Kurtzweil Musical LLC
www.kurtzweilmusical.com
269-340-9013
scott@kurtzweilmusical.com
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Author: Wayne
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00
I also returned to playing after a few decades away. My old teacher used to have me start long tones with the softest attack I can make, then crescendo to a peak volume (while staying in tune) followed by a long decrescendo to my softest volume. I still do several of these every day before I start my scale studies. At first it was painful, now, it's my daily "zen" moment with the clarinet. Really helps build up the lips !
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