 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-22 16:20
Hello
I injured my front tooth pretty bad years ago and recently had some surgery to try and keep the tooth. Is it possible to play without touching the front teeth and also sound good while not touching the front teeth ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif) ? I have read that some people don't use the teeth to play clarinet. I have just always used my front teeth. The other possibility is that I can play on the side of my mouth. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Also, has anyone ever played with an implant. If the surgery is not successful that is probably the next step.
Thanks
Karen
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-08-22 16:34
You can try using a double lip embrouchure. This will take most of the stress off of your front teeth.
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-22 19:49
Yes I do know that but I guess my question is does anyone play this way. I do not know anyone personally that has played double lip, so I am wondering if it is worth the effort to learn. It seems like it is a pretty hard technique as I have tried to do it. Any help or tips would be so much appreciated.
KAren
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-23 13:32
Hi and thanks for the response. It helps to know that it has worked out for you. I figured it would take a lot of patience to learn so I am prepared for that. It doesn't hurt my tooth when I double lip, i just can't do it for too very long at this point because I seem to start biting my lip. Do you have any problems with biting on the mouthpiece on the high notes--can you double lip the high notes? I am just curious. I was using a 3 1/2 reed but have put on a size 2 for the time being. Thanks for those videos. I plan to watch them this afternoon.
Karen
Post Edited (2012-08-23 14:10)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-08-23 19:08
It's definitely an adjustment getting used to double lip, and I think I'm doing less biting than I did when playing single lip. It took a little practice, but I have no trouble hitting the high notes.
It's good to hear that double lip doesn't bother your tooth. Best of luck to you!
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-24 16:51
Well I played last night using the double lip for quite a while, and after a period of time it did bother my tooth.. Seems I won't be able to really play the clarinet for a few more months til this heals. I was thinking with the double lip that my tooth would not be involved but it is or at least it is when I double lip, or maybe I am pressing my tooth to hard against my lip. However, I do believe I will use the double lip once my tooth is healed up, (with lots of prayers). It is less pressure on the teeth, and I think it sounds just as good.
One thing for sure....Never take the clarinet playing for granted.
Karen
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-08-24 17:01
A sax-player friend has a similar situation. He uses dental molding material to make a molded pad between the front teeth and the mouthpiece, and also uses a thick home-made bite plate made from a rubbery dental molding material. He got the material from his dentist after explaining the problem. He's due for 2 upper incisor implants shortly, and the dentist assures him that these shouldn't present any problem.
Tony F.
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-25 12:14
Hello
Thanks for that response Tony. I am curious what the dental bonding is so I can tell my dentisit about it. He may already know if I tell him about your response. I am happy your friend will be able to continue playing.
I attempted the double lip again and realize that I need to stabilize the clarinet to take the pressure off my mouth. I figured out I can do that with my knee rather than my mouth. Hopefully, I will be able to do this with my hands and stop relying on the knee. But, it takes enourmous pressure off my teeth. I can do the clarion and chalumeau registers fine, but altissimo is a little more difficult and staying in tune is an issue ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif) . I think I might get it if I continue to work on it.
Sincerely
Karen
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Author: andrewcsq
Date: 2012-08-25 15:50
Disclaimer: I am not a regular user of the double lip embouchure. Neither am I a pro.
Just a thought, my teacher always told me that the small amount of biting on the mouthpiece that "standard" clarinetists use also supported the weight and angle of the clarinet to quite an extent.
Might the use of a strap potentially take some of the "clarinet holding" stress off the double lip embouchure? (though sometimes the use of a clarinet strap is as controversial as the use of double lip!)
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-08-25 17:40
Hi Andrew
Thanks for your response. I have never used the double lip embouchure...I am definitely not a pro either, now just a handicapped clarinet player. I completely love the clarinet for whatever reason, and I have played it everyday for the past six years up until this surgery and practiced and played til I thought I would drop or did drop. A day without the clarinet is like a day without sunshine. I really am appreciating this board and everyones' responses.
I never realized there was a strap though when I was trying the double embrochure I kept thinking "if only I had a strap instead of my knee", so you made me realize that there was such a thing out there already invented. It would definitely be better than using my knee as an anchor. So I wonder, if that is something I can go purchase at the music store? Do you know? I guess I could google it too.
I know the double embrouchure is controversial, but where there is a will there surely should be a way. Remember the olympics, where the guy ran with the artificial legs? That was awesome. He did as well and better than most the other runners. I think it was just the determination in his heart. From what I am reading, the double embrochure can sound really good if you put the practice into it.
Sincerely
Karen
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