 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2026-08-12 04:28
A couple of years ago, I think during COVID, I tried making the transition to double lip embouchure (from single lip.)
I liked how the change gave me more control during softer play. I feel like my sound is better using it, although it may be all in my head, as I think I can get pretty close to the same sound using the principles I learned playing this way, to single lip play as possible.
The transition was slow. Boy did the inside of my upper lip hurt, it not having the necessary thickness as the inside of my lower lip did from years of single lip play. But eventually, that pain went away.
What didn't go away though is face muscle fatigue. While I can play longer stinks double lip than months ago, I have to stop and take a break or switch to single lip, where such limitations aren't present.
In an effort to build up these muscles outside of play I acquired Yehuda Gilad's Wind-o product https://www.thewind-o.com/, but what I seek is something that more targets these (buccinator) muscles.
In my opinion the side wings of the Wind-o don't come out far enough to maximize the buccinator training I seek.
TIA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alexey
Date: 2026-08-12 13:58
I think the best way to develop the embouchure, whether single or double, is simply to play the clarinet. Long tones and intervals are probably more useful for this purpose than just playing pieces and etudes.
The thing is that playing the clarinet requires us to develop and coordinate quite a lot of muscles that pull and push in different directions at the same time. At the same time, the embouchure needs to remain flexible so that it can adjust to changes in register and dynamics.
I don't think there is a device, or even a combination of devices, that can reproduce all of these aspects of playing.
In fact, if we want to work on the embouchure but can't play the clarinet for some reason, I sometimes think that simply forming a proper embouchure and blowing through it may be more useful than using any device.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: farabout
Date: 2026-08-12 15:45
SecondTry wrote:
> Yehuda Gilad's Wind-o product
>
Another quackery.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GoldhawkRoad
Date: 2026-08-12 17:10
This might be a similar product, but I remember reading Larry Guy's Embouchure book, and in it he mentions a device that works the embouchure muscles. He tells you where to buy it as well. I used it for a bit. I don't remember if I found it so helpful or not, but if you're curious, I'd point you towards that book; regardless it's an interesting read.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
