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Re: Clarinet fundamental problems

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-09-05 03:17

Philip Caron wrote:

> If Paul Aviles was joining this conversation, I suspect he'd
> point out that the throat / palate don't move because they
> don't have muscles to move them. He has indeed written to that
> effect here in the past.
>

I'm not sure exactly what Paul says specifically about the soft palate. But I think simple observation in a mirror shows that it can move under voluntary control. Which is why the doctor asks you to say "ahhh" to look at your pharyngeal area. You can see the uvula rise markedly if you watch in a mirror while you do it (use a flashlight to see better).

I'd be surprised if raising the palate really is involved in Richie's problem. Muscles can only contract, and raising the uvula and soft palate is the result of contraction from above. It's hard to see where the muscles would be to force the area downward. The tongue *can* close off the area by rising too far (there *are* opposing flexors and extensors above and below the tongue). This is all based on my conjecture - I haven't studied oral/pharyngeal anatomy, either.

> and see if the problem goes away, even if it produces a
> horrifically terrible sound. I suspect it will do both. Then,
> keep varying things until you become aware of what muscles are
> doing what. Then, practice for control.

Or, ironically, if the problem turns out to be an unconscious, counterproductive way to produce the sound, practice staying out of the way.

Karl

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