 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 09:01
Attachment: Recording.mp3 (324k)
I've been playing clarinet for more than 3 years now, and just recently whenever I play, I get an unwanted vibrato on all of my notes, most noticeably on the notes from open G to clarion C. It is extremely bad and noticeable. I usually practice daily, but over the summer, I took a 2-month long break, where I practiced only about once a week. I think the wobbly sound is the result of my bottom lip trembling when I play. If I play and touch my bottom lip, I can feel it trembling. Does anyone know what I can do to fix this problem? I am in desperate need of help because I have a very important upcoming audition. Any help would be very greatly appreciated. I play on a Yamaha YCL61 with a Vandoren M13 lyre mouthpiece and Vandoren V12 3 1/2+ reeds. I have attached a recording of what it sounds like on my notes G, A, B, and C.
Post Edited (2019-08-18 09:10)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-08-18 11:44
From the sound on the recording and your description (lower lip "trembling") the most obvious explanation is that you're doing something to introduce a lot of tension into the muscles that control your lower lip. Barring a neurological problem of some sort, something about your approach to embouchure is the root cause.
I don't think your reed/mouthpiece is forcing you to contort, although you do need to be aware of whether a specific reed is responding easily or not.
You seem to be saying the tremor (I wouldn't call it a vibrato. It doesn't sound periodic - regular - enough) is most noticeable on the notes you recorded. What about high clarion A5, B5 and C6? If it's pure lip tremor, it should be very noticeable on those notes.
Do you sit or stand when you practice? Do you feel any strain in your right wrist (the hand that supports the clarinet) that could cause the instrument itself to wobble? Does this develop after you've been playing for some time, or is it present from the start of a playing session? Is it really limited to those 4 notes, or is it more generalized?
It's puzzling that it happens, by your report, on two of the least resistant and two of the most resistant notes on the clarinet unless it's really happening over the whole range of the instrument and you've just focused on those 4. It would be much easier to diagnose in person by someone who could watch you and also check your equipment to make sure there isn't a mechanical issue with the clarinet that's causing the tension. But the more detail you can give, the more useful any replies you get here may be.
Karl
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-18 14:07
Are you very stressed about the audition that is coming up? If you're trying to aim for a position that you don't feel confident about getting then your body might just be freaking out a bit.
You could test that by rationalising the stress of the audition a bit, doing something very relaxing for a while, and remembering that you will continue to love playing even if you don't succeed in the audition. Then when you are all nice and relaxed, try playing, and see if the muscle wobble reduces a bit.
The business of emotion turning into physical symptoms is called somatization, if you want to read more about it.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-08-18 15:03
I agree with the above posts. Straining and worrying can be contributing factors.
As far as your upcoming audition is concerned......DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. :-) Trite I know, but fundamental issues should not be addressed as emergencies. Just find the beautiful melody, the cool harmonic progression, the fun fingering challenge in there somewhere and enjoy those.
Now, as for the tremor, one other guess is that you may be scrunching up the meat and flesh below your lower lip. If it looks all puffy and pitted, you need to do the opposite. That is, you want to pull back and down on the "corners" of your lip so that the whole chin area is flat and firm.
That said we obsess WAY too much on embouchure where the active pushing of the air is MUCH more important to the production of a solid, smooth, resonant tone.
And I repeat, fundamental changes take time. So let that happen over time and don't expect that to improve instantaneously just before an audition or performance that's coming up in an hour.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2019-08-18 19:03
Is the tremor/vibrato still there if you rest the bell on your knee, thus reducing the strain on the supporting arm and hand?
Tony F.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2019-08-18 19:59
Any chance you're playing in a room with a fan blowing?
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2019-08-18 21:43
Same issue with my embouchure after playing for over 60 years. Last year I switched to alto and bass clarinet which mostly got rid of the shake. I also started playing in less tense situations. After a few months, the shake mostly went away on Bb also. I also found that I need to do a slow warm up before playing for at least 10-15 minutes. At that point embouchure is all settled in and solid.
All the best (tone quality)
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 21:51
Attachment: IMG_8407.jpg (1153k)
Attachment: IMG_8411.jpg (452k)
I also believe that the problem has something to do with my embouchure, but I have no idea how I can fix it. I am going to include photos of what my embouchure looks like and hopefully, it can help see what the problem is. I also recorded a video of what my embouchure looks like while I'm playing. In the video, there is clearly a visible tremor on my bottom lip. I wish I could post it, but I don't think I can. Any ideas on what would cause this? I have looked everywhere on the internet and can't find out why. I would really love to get a private teacher, but I have been unable to find anyone in my area.
My reed size has been relatively easy to play on. The tremor is noticeable on all of my notes to some degree. I just recorded the notes where it is the worst and you could hear it the most.
I sit when I practice, and I don't ever feel a strain on my wrist. The problem is always present from the start of a playing session.
Thank you for all of your advice Karl. I really do appreciate it. Should I edit this response into my original post so that more people will be able to see it? I'm new to this so please forgive my ignorance.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 21:56
Thank you for the suggestion. I will try to look more into it, but I don't think it is the problem because I usually don't get very nervous before an audition. I know it is not the end of the world if I don't succeed, I just think that it would be cool if I did.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 22:03
Thank you, Paul, for your advice. Maybe it is because I am straining and worrying about the audition, but I usually tend to keep my cool. I will try to work on it. ]
I believe the problem is my embouchure, but I have no idea how to fix it. If you can, please look at my response to kdk. I attached photos of my embouchure to that response and maybe you can see where my embouchure is wrong. I would really appreciate it if you could, but it is ok if you can't. Once again, thank you for all your help.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 22:04
The tremor is still there when I rest the bell on my knees. I don't think that the problem is how I hold my clarinet because I can still hear the tremor even when I play on just my mouthpiece. Still, thank you for your suggestion, Tony.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 22:07
No, there isn't a fan blowing in the room. How would having a fan affect my problem? I am curious to know. Thank you, Bennett.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-18 22:11
Could you specify what you mean by "less tense situations"? And what is the slow warm-up that you do? My warm-up is usually playing whole notes through my chromatic scale. Thank you for your response, Mr. Gibson.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-18 22:48
Hi,
The embouchure photos are great. I'm only a relative beginner myself, but have you looked at these videos? I find them really helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYo6R-BaDP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2TUGyTslUM
Good luck!
Jen
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2019-08-18 22:52
Is this one maybe helpful too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDeixIvOnLU
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-08-18 23:36
Just a thought...
Having looked at your photos just now, I think I would suggest that you fold more of your lower lip over your teeth. This is only a knee-jerk reaction to the photos and may do absolutely nothing to help, but it looks to me as if your lower lip may not be actually resting on your teeth - it's maybe mostly out in front of them. It just looks like there's too much lower lip exposed. If the lip is in contact with your teeth at all, there may be too thin a sliver of contact for stability and control. Your lip may be bearing the brunt of supporting the reed and mouthpiece instead of having it form a cushion between the reed and your teeth and letting your teeth form the foundation.
The problem is that trying to change a habit like this, even if it turns out to make a difference, can be very difficult unless you're willing to just accept feeling awkward for a week or two. You'll tend to revert to habit, so, if it feels wrong at first, this may be a process, as Paul suggests, that needs to wait until after the audition.
As an experiment, try folding both lips in until the points of your teeth are pressing at the edges of the red parts of your lips. Then, put the mouthpiece in and let the upper lip out but keep the lower lip in that position (or keep the upper lip in, too - that's a basic double lip embouchure), form a circle (some players describe it as a gasket or a seal) with your lips around the mouthpiece, and blow. I think you'll know pretty quickly if the tone that comes out is freer and without the tremor. If this helps, you can decide where your lip is most comfortable - everyone's lips are different.
>> I would really love to get a private teacher, but I have been unable to
>> find anyone in my area.
One trouble with doing this over the Internet is that you can't get immediate feedback. There must be someone - your school band director? - who could help with this.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-08-18 23:40
There is something about the corners of your lower lip that look odd. I'd guess it is as if you are pursing your lower lip. pushing it forward.
Ultimately you need to provide the flattest, thinnest lower lip surface over your lower teeth so as to have a bit of a cushion for the reed, but NOT create a damper that stifles the reed's vibrations.
Maybe if damping and effort to encourage vibrations are happening at the same time in opposition, you may be straining to get the vibration half of the equation to win out.
Maybe
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-19 07:24
Thank you for the video suggestions. I love Michelle Anderson and find her videos very helpful.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-19 07:44
I have tried everything that you suggested. So far, the thing that seems to work best is the double lip embouchure. It reduces the tremor but doesn't make it completely disappear. I will continue playing with the double lip embouchure to see if it gets any better. Thank you so very much for all of your help Karl.
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Author: KoolKlarinet
Date: 2019-08-19 07:50
I have tried what you suggested and it does clear up my sound a little bit. Thank you for the help, Paul.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-08-19 12:12
The only explicit instruction I ever had in forming a double lip embouchure was (from Harold Wright) to take equal amounts of upper and lower lip in. But regardless of whether you use single or double lip, try to experiment with folding more of the lower lip over your teeth so there's less exposed than your photos show.
Karl
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