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Re: Embouchure Fatigue

Author: Mike Sz
Date: 2020-01-27 03:05

Hello all. My first post here on this site.

I can understand how the originator of this thread feels.
I'm an ex Military Musician, Clarinet player and started playing the clarinet in 1969.
I spent a year at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music in London and my clarinet Professor for that year was Jack Brymer. I was very lucky to get some great advice and guidance.

However after 20 years break from playing I have re-discovered my love of playing again with a local wind band.

I can definitely relate to the problems of a very tired embouchure.

I have read with interest all of the comments and advice given and agree with the majority. However, I feel that you will all agree that it is a very complex problem with many variables.

My feeling is that, from the initial description of his problem, he is trying hard to 'Do the right thing' and copy the styles and sounds of others rather than trying to develop his own style and sound. The style of mouthpiece along with strength of reed affects more than the ability to play for a longer time but has a massive effect of the sound developed.

I feel that he needs to find his own more relaxed style to play and experiment with several different mouthpieces with different lays and different strengths of reeds.

Rather than trying to get his Professor to impart his knowledge, surely he would do much better by visiting a trusted and helpful music shop that supplies both of these items allowing him to trial the different pieces.

He could also do with finding a local Wind Band to pay with and see how long he can practise with them and play in their concerts. I have found that this has helped me very quickly re-develop my poor embouchure and allow me to play for more than 2 or three hours, having fun playing with others rather than just practising solo.

It's easy for us to say what we find easy but our marriage of mouthpiece, reed and playing style may be quite alien for another player.

I look forward to hearing your comments and seeing your ideas.

Mike Sz.

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Embouchure Fatigue new

Exiawolf

2020-01-16 04:38