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Re: (upper) lip protection

Author: nellsonic
Date: 2023-05-30 05:48

lydian wrote:

> Outliers. It's just plain wrong to encourage beginners to use
> double lip. Millions of kids learn single lip every year
> because it works for everyone who has front teeth. Everybody I
> know who ever played double switched back to single unless they
> had some sort of dental issue.
>
> Just doing my part to set people on the right path. But it
> obviously never works. Double lip beginners are by far the most
> stubborn people on the planet. It's like a religion to them.
> Yes the vibrations feel funny at first. But that's a good
> thing. Please give the traditional embouchure a chance. Your
> upper lip, altissimo, intonation and pitch control will thank
> me, eventually.

With all due respect, please dial back the rhetoric on this. Double lip and single are both legitmate approaches and can compliment each other well. There are (and have been) world class players (all over the world) using double, particularly in France. Many of the very best American players used it during much of the 20th Century.

I start most of my beginners double lip and spend a fraction of the instructional time getting their embouchures set up well. Maybe that makes me a problem in your book, but many of these students go on to competive marching band, All-State band, music scholarships etc. - no problem.

Your take on this was common among American players a couple decades ago, but many of us know better now - things change for the better. Kind of like the "smile" approach to embouchure that was all the rage until people figured out why it was a bad idea - remember that one? I'm sorry to come on strong but I think your statement shouldn't go unchallenged. Nothing personal. I'm sure you and your students sound great! Nothing wrong with just playing single OR double as long as it works. PS I play both and often use double to enhance pitch control when needed.

Anders

Post Edited (2023-05-30 14:21)

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(upper) lip protection new

spikey1973

2023-05-29 14:54