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Re: Teeth Moving?

Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-06-25 10:08

You're doing the right thing by having him play double lip. I hope his band director doesn't try to change it.

A neck strap might help. Although its connection to embouchure is debatable, your student might be less likely to bite (if he does that) if he doesn't have to worry about supporting the weight of the clarinet with his right thumb.

Does he feel comfortable with his mouthpiece/reed combination? Is he using a tiring setup that is possibly causing him to bite? Due to cost issues, many young students have less than desirable setups. I remember shopping once for a new mouthpiece, and was trying to decide between two that were excellent. After doing the usual mouthpiece tests, which included playing scales and familiar passages, the choice was difficult. After playing some etudes, it all became obvious. My embouchure muscles were sore after 16 measures on the first mouthpiece, and I could feel myself starting to bite. The second mouthpiece was much more comfortable, and I was able to get through an entire page easily.

One last thought: Does your student know how to adjust and balance reeds? Does he frequently have reed issues? Good reeds might not stop his teeth from shifting, but if his embouchure muscles are strong and if he doesn't have to bite to compensate for poor reeds, it's a step in the right direction.

Post Edited (2015-06-25 10:12)

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