 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-06-05 21:18
Hello
I have heard of people having extremely firm embouchures, so firm that when another grips the barrel and pushes it either way that the sound remains constant and unwavering and the clarinet remains where it was!!! So my questions are: is this the right method, and if so what steps should one take to have such a firm embouchure??
Thanks in Advance!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-06 03:39
Yes, I think I heard that somewhere too but I'm not convinced.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lowclarinetman
Date: 2005-06-06 12:46
Well the siad demonstration is more for proper holding of the clarinet than embouchure strength. The clarinet shouldn't move side to side or be able to move side to side while you play.
This is mostly controlled by upward pressure from your thumb and solidly resting the mouthpiece(preferably with some sort of mouthpiece pad) on your teeth.
My embouchure is as "natural" as possible and i teach a more relaxed approach as well. As long you are making a good sound on the instrument and your embouchure is not so tight as to stiffle reed vibration it is problably ok... i would need to see you playing to determine that exactly though.
good luck and best wishes
bob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-06 13:19
Really! How could anyone possibly hold the clarinet so rigidly that it could not be moved side to side to some slight degree.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2005-06-06 14:19
I had a dog once with an embouchure that strong....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lowclarinetman
Date: 2005-06-06 15:01
just to clarify i'm not talking about anyone exerting a huge amount of force here... but the clarinet should not move side to side while you are playing and it should be able to withstand slight pushing without moving.
If the clarinet is prone to move in your mouth then the air is not going to be going into the instrument exactly the same all the time and thus there will be in variations in the sound the clarinet produces.
The whole point of the embouchure is to create a steady cushion for the clarinet and to help focus the air into the clarinet. Seems to me that it cannot do this job very well if the clarinet is moving around alot.
well just my 2 cents
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alphie
Date: 2005-06-06 15:18
It should be so firm that it doesn't leak any air from the corners of the mouth and not moving around at all when playing, unless there are Clari-snappers around, then you might want to firm it up a bit.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-06 20:46
I'm trying to picture a Clari-snapper. My personal opinion is that rather than trying to enforce a rigid clarinet-in-the- mouth mental picture the emphasis should be on making an air-tight seal between the lips and the mp/reed combination.
That being accomplished it doesn't make any difference if the clarinet moves side to side or up and down.....as far as embouchure is concerned.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-06-07 01:42
A good exercise for this (also to improve lip strength and flexibility) is to play an open G and make it as flat as possible (use a tuner), getting it down to the F# range if possible. Then gradually tighten the lips all around the mouthpiece, as if your lips were a rubber band (not just the lower lip). Bring the G into focus and continue tightening; it will probably be somewhat sharp now. Next extend the jaw forward to get a vibrant sound and prevent closing the reed. Finally, relax the lips a bit until you are in tune with a rich sound.
This exercise I learned from Larry Guy's book on "Intonation Training for Clarinetists." I'll quote him on saying that "the goal of this exercise is to improve your flexibility and also to remind you that the 'middle of the road' amount of lip pressure gives the best sound and intonation on any given note."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
