 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2010-03-05 01:12
I'm working on embouchure recovery exercises with my lesson teacher to help stop biting. I am not sure how to make the embouchure correctly. (If anyone can shed some light on this)
I can't hit the high notes without changing the air. My lesson teacher expects me to be able to hit the high notes with very little embouchure recovery time, but she tells me I've gotta pull in the corners of my mouth. I don't know what that means. Am I supposed to synthesize corners with my lips? Or actually bring in the corners? If so, I can't do that. My corners just won't come in any closer than the size of the mouthpiece.
:-/
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-03-05 01:29
"I can't hit the high notes without changing the air."
When you say "high notes", how high do you mean?
As far as general advice goes about high notes- there is very little change in embrochure from low to about ![[G6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/g6.gif) , but you still do have to do a little change here and there.
When your teacher says to pull in the corners of your mouth, are you leaking air out of the corners? Does your embrochure look like a smile?
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2010-03-05 01:40
High Eb just a few notes below that high G above is as high as I can go normally. My embouchure is straight. Air doesn't leak out the sides to my knowledge.
I start getting a really flat sound around high A#(one ledger line above the staff)
If that helps out any.
And the areas around my top row teeth on the side feel pressed. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen, but it sorta hurts.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-03-05 02:33
"And the areas around my top row teeth on the side feel pressed. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen, but it sorta hurts."
"Area" means what? Gums? face? lips???
--
I think I understand what is going on. You need to focus your air more. When you play, imagine that you are blowing through a small straw- not just holding the straw and breathing through it, but really puching the air. Also, raise your tongue like you are saying "eee" or "aaa".
Do some long tones- play the low E and stabilize it and then push the register key and go to middle B. Pay attention that the transition is smooth and clean. Then go F to C, F# to C#, and go up chromatically.
There might also be a problem with your reed/mouthpiece, but I think the exercises I mentioned might help, in any case.
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-03-05 04:06
Michele Gingras has a great video clip about embouchure, and I think you'll find this very helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SlFgO4Hi5k
I really like Skygardener's suggestions about focusing the air and long tones. Spend a lot of time with long tones on the high notes. The more you play up there, the more comfortable it gets.
You mentioned your top teeth hurting. There are a couple possible ideas. You could try a mouthpiece patch. They're very inexpensive, and if you don't like it, you can easily peel it off. You could also experiment with double lip. You might not want to use it permanently, but it is a good temporary remedy to help you get away from biting.
As Skygardener pointed out, there could also be a problem with your reed and/or mouthpiece, and it's worth discussing this with your teacher.
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Author: reddog4063
Date: 2010-03-05 06:09
try a double lipped embouchure. Eb is not very high at all and you make your current embouchure sound like torture...
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-03-05 15:49
A more productive way to think about "pulling in your corners" is to think of wrapping the whole mouthpiece in rubber band. That band will squeeze the mouthpiece and reed equally from all directions.
Tighten up AROUND the mouthpiece --give the sides and top the same pressure as that of the lower lip on the reed.
This means, too, that you will push DOWN on the mouthpiece with your upper lip.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-03-05 16:33
It's really hard to answer without seeing what you're doing but one way many teachers use to help with the embouchure is to play double lip, the lip over the teeth on top and bottom, for a few minutes each day and observe how your lips go around the mouthpiece. Also, as far as the sides of your mouth, think whistling or puckering, as in a kiss, at the same time you firm up the sides a bit. That way you don't pinch but you secure the sides as well. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2010-03-06 03:38
practice the high notes in pairs. F top line in the staff goes with high D, G just above the staff goes with high E, G# and high F, E in the staff with high C# and high G, (three in this group)
Freelance woodwind performer
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