The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Odd Technique

Author: Jacob S
Date: 2008-12-13 01:30

After a very productive private lesson, I will now enlighten some of you with my unconventional clarinet technique. My embouchure is unlike most people's. You know how teachers say not to bunch up your chin? Or to not bite too much with your bottom teeth? Or to not use more than the pink part of your lower lip? Well, I do all of the above. My teacher described it much better than I could; my articulation is like playing pool. My tongue is the cue, my lip the cue ball and finally the reed being the solids and stripes. In 5th grade I started clarinet without knowing what articulating notes was. 6th grade I began lessons and was forced to learn to articulate.
Now I am in high school. I believed something was wrong with my playing before, but decided that if it wasn't broke, don't fix it; not until I can't do something, that is. I'm expected to play louder and quicker, so I am not faced with the challenge of "relearning" clarinet.
I am a pretty good high school clarinetist (not the music major-pursuing type but I can hold my own against most of them), so it'll be interesting balancing band rehearsals with this "different" practicing...
I'll update on how I'm doing.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics