 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marie from New York
Date: 2013-02-28 00:06
I have a student who is really frustrated to have spit that rolls down the outside of her mouthpiece (seemingly appearing from under the reed) and actually enters the tone holes from the outside and causes burbles. I've taught for 40 years and never really seen this particular problem. I had her try some new mouthpieces because it really did seem that it was finding a way between the reed and the mouthpiece. But she has the same problem with the other mouthpieces. Aside from having her frequently suck the moisture out, and make sure she is "drying" out her mouth before she plays, I am not sure how to proceed. She is getting her braces off in a few weeks and I am really hoping that will prove to be a big help. Any solutions out there?
Post Edited (2013-03-02 21:35)
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2013-02-28 03:46
When this happens to me on sax, I believe its a warped Reed that swells and lifts the edges of the Reed off the table. Did you also try different reeds? It seems to help to store the reeds in a humidified case. Also some reeds (Rico) seem more prone to the problem. I have not seen this on clarinet.
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: Taras12
Date: 2013-02-28 04:45
Can she rinse her mouth with some type of "astringent" mouthwash. Listerine comes to mind, diluted 1:1 with water. It's a temporary fix. I used to do this prior to singing to help dry out my mouth prior to performing. Some of my fellow singers would use a dilute solution of lemon or lime juice.
Tristan
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-02-28 07:49
Some players do tend to leak more than others even if the reed is a good fit on the mouthpiece. The sides of the reed form a perfect channel for spit to run down.
As they've got braces fitted, that's probably the main factor to the dribbles as they can't form their embouchure properly with them on - so hopefully things will improve once the braces are removed.
I've decided never to lend my saxes (especially my tenor) out to anyone while I'm working on theirs as I really hate seeing my instruments splattered with spit and having to clean them up when I get them back. It makes me want to throw up sometimes. I don't mind so much if it's someone else's sax that's splattered (although cleaning the bow out is pretty grim when it's all slimy inside when you have to get your fingers in there to clean it all) - I just don't like seeing my own instruments covered in someone else's gob. I also get some 'run-off' when I'm playing (especially bari which I think is mainly due to the width of the reed in relation to the narrower width of the mouthpiece table) so it's a case of keeping a handkerchief or tissue handy to dry the sides and heel end of the mouthpiece table where spit can run down and collect.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-02-28 08:49
Some mouthpieces "leak" more than others - I am "tight" on soprano, but on one of my bass pieces I'm leaking, especially when playing fff. On the other, no such problems. <shrug>
--
Ben
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-02-28 16:09
I have a lot of mouthpiece spit when playing bass clarinet. I attribute that to the fact that I play Legere reeds on it, so the reed can't help soak anything up. I play cane on my other mouthpieces and don't have nearly the spit problem.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-02-28 16:52
Does she use lipstick, chew gum, or suck on hard candy just before playing? E.G,. anything that might stimulate saliva production.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-02-28 17:11
Leakage under the reed can be caused by a small side-to-side concavity in the mouthpiece facing near the edge of the opening. A competent refacer can check this and correct it quickly, although some refacers don't seem to understand it. I believe that a length-wise concavity in the mouthpiece table facing is needed (as does Vandoren) for the reed to vibrate properly but it should not be carried on to the opening. Good luck!
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