Author: jhoyla
Date: 2011-09-25 14:28
I'm going to assume that you have tried his reed in his instrument, and that you find it easy to blow and responsive. If this is NOT the case, I would do this first!
Try to isolate the problem:
Look at his/her teeth. Is there a serious orthodontic issue that is preventing him sealing firmly round the reed? [I had a student once who had one milk-tooth incisor, while her other incisor was her adult tooth. She found sound production very difficult]
Can he crow the reed? Can he crow the "octave-C" sound?
What note does he get out of the reed only, in the playing position?
Can he make the note go higher by blowing harder? (not by squeezing with his lips!)
Is he able to seal firmly around the reed when he blows? Does air escape?
Can he hold the reed in his lips (no hands) and blow? [advanced]
All of these tests will give you some idea as to whether the problem is wind-pressure, teeth, lip muscle-tone, muscle control, over-control etc.
J.
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