 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2014-12-18 13:54
I'm not normally much of a gadget guy, but the testimonials from reputable players make this sound interesting enough to try. That said, the device itself seems somewhat gimicky. Has anyone tried one?
http://www.thewind-o.com/testimonials
Anders
Post Edited (2014-12-18 15:15)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-18 15:24
http://www.thewind-o.com
I would have appreciated seeing this gizm BEFORE the testimonials. My "charlatanism" hackles started rising at about four minutes into the Gilad video.
Ok, I see this thing seems to point one directly to the cheek muscles which is a good thing. For those of us who are not aware of the buccinators as a key element of the embouchure, this product would appear to be a good trainer.
I, however, have to go back to the notion that producing a good clarinet sound is a dynamic process that combines a percentage of embouchure control with the active production of an air column (actively pushing air out from the core). The embouchure is constantly adjusting to the changing air requirements that change from, note to note, register to register, one dynamic to another. And with that in mind, I believe that the AIR column is by far the MORE important constituent in this equation.
So as far as this gizm may distract a student from the importance of the AIR COLUMN and the dynamic equilibrium that exists between air and embouchure, I think it may not be a good idea. You cannot achieve a good sound on the clarinet only pursuing an ideal embouchure. The embouchure exists..........to corral the air.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2014-12-18 17:06
It either is helpful or it's not. Thus my question, "has anyone tried one?"
It seems to be a new product, so perhaps not. The Burt Hera video is more interesting to me than the Gilad one.
The FAQ link at the top of the page gives a good explanation of what it actually is and how it works. It does APPEAR to work on the relationship between air and embouchure.
Anders
Post Edited (2014-12-18 17:09)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2014-12-18 17:09
Hi Nellsonic,
I'm friends with Rob Patterson and Phil Paglialonga, and the biggest question I had for them was whether they had continued to use it over time. They both had made it part of their daily practice.
I have one, and it's remarkably efficient at isolating the muscles and (at the very least) bringing increased awareness to their actuation.
Even with the lightest resistance, it's possible to wear yourself out very quickly. I agree with Paul's thoughts on the embouchure/air stream and how they are integral to each other -- the Wind-O does a good job of allowing that relationship to exist -- but it's not playing the clarinet.
Burt Hara's was the significant endorsement for me.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-12-18 18:37
I have not tried the wind-o. I am though familiar with the device, as well as its basic design and intentions; specifically its ability to develop facial muscles that support corner of the mouth strength through resistance training against rubber bands.
It seems to me that if exercise of the muscle of the corner of the mouth are what's desired, assuming this is necessary or beneficial apart from clarinet play itself, then one might start searching, for example that "well known auction site who's name I use to know," (wink) for facial exercisers.
I just found one selling there for $.89 including shipping. If readers recall, this was a less than top selling informercial product from a few years ago, marketed then for a heck of a lot more than this "fire sale" price.
Now granted, unlike the wind-o there won't be that feedback between your ability to squeeze your cheek muscles and open up an apeture through which to blow, consistent with clarinet play, but the roughly $119 price differential suggests, at least I think, that it's a good entry point into corner of the mouth muscle excercisers, assuming that road even be traveled.
Paul's "charlatanism" hackles are shared as I suspect we've both seen our share of (clarinet) gizmos marketed as paradigm changers, but yet I get invigorated by the occasional products that come along which really are good--if I may offer 2 examples IMHO, D'Addario's new entries into the reed space and Ridenour's ATG System.
Like you, I'd like to hear from users. Do note, that while we all come to the table with biases, there must be close to a dozen specific biases
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_biases_in_judgment_and_decision_making
that could make reported results differ from actual ones, not the least of which being this author's choice to use the above link as a reference point for a list of biases in the first place.
Post Edited (2014-12-18 18:40)
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2014-12-18 19:45
WhitePlainsDave wrote:
"... its ability to develop facial muscles that support corner of the mouth strength through resistance training against rubber bands."
The Facial Flex is essentially the same thing, rubber bands and all. The air component can be duplicated with a tube and a balloon.
The Facial Flex is $35. Balloons are a couple bucks a dozen. The Windo-0 is $120.
(I have a Facial Flex, and I liked it, but I don't use it anymore; I tone and strengthen my facial muscles and optimize my wind by playing the clarinet.)
B.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2014-12-18 22:47
I agree with the premise of the the Wind-o, but the price is outrageous. The Facial Flex does the same for 89ยข.
Embouchure strength and endurance is essential. In addition to the buccinators, which pull the corners of the mouth in, I needed to build up the muscles that press my lips up and down. I needed to do this particularly because I play double lip, but the same principle applies with single lip.
I made my own for nothing. I put a dead reed on a dead mouthpiece and squeezed from all directions to strengthen my entire embouchure. After a week or so, I added a dead (cracked) barrel. I built the muscles up so that I could hold the thing (without hands, but just by lip strength) for up to a minute.
This greatly helped my endurance and security of playing.
Ken Shaw
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2014-12-19 19:09
Some also confuse muscle tone with muscle strength.
B.
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