I just got my clarinet yesterday and i was wondering if you are suppossed to put your top teeth on top of the mouth-piece or put your lip down then put your teeth on your lip? (does that make any sense? lol) Thanks...

Your top teeth go on top of the mouthpiece, touching it. Only your bottom lip should block your teeth from the reed so the reed can vibsrate. I hope this helped.

Thanks. good, i was doing it right....

But make sure you don`t try to put too much pressure on the top teeth, or you can even make it your top lip if it`s better cause you could get teeth marks in the ligature if you`re giving it too much pressure.

I have a really heavy bite with my top teeth on the mouthpiece when I`m playing clarinet - how could I fix this so I don`t have any bite marks?

i thought everyone gets bite marks?

my embouchure is horrible... lol. at least i ithnk so. i thinkk it`s instinct that you bite harder when you need more lip pressure, i`m not so sure how you could fix it. i see no problem with it anyways.

so.. how do you adjust your embouchure for intonation reasons.. do you have a less stable embouchure so you can slacken it or lip up or lip down how much..

To not bite, when I played clarinet (I sometimes still do), when I had to put pressure for the high notes etc., I tried to support the pressure with how I held the clarinet, and trying to adjust for less pressure on the mouth but it`s kinda confusing so I ususally covered my teeth with my lips and put pressure.

The advice you are getting here is generally good, but there is only so much people can help you with via an online forum like this. You really should get the best teacher you can find. Is there a professional symphony orchestra in your area? Usually those musicians are happy to recommend good teachers and a lot of them teach themselves. Summon up your nerve and give the principal clarinet player a call. He or she is probably a nicer person than you would imagine and would welcome the chance to help you along.

I can`t cover my teeth with my lip because when I do, I cut open my inner-lip.

Is it a serious problem that bite marks are left on my mouthpiece, or does it just look bad?

Christina...
If you just do not want to mess up your mouthpiece with bite marks...I have this cushion i guess you could call it but it is not soft, that sticks on the mouthpiece. I just bought it at a local music store.

As for the embouchure...
Our school had this clinician once and I thought he sounded funny the way he called things. He called your bottom lip `your cushion`.. Set the clarinet on your cushion the way it is normally, you want to be in a normal, comfortable position, and just set the teeth on top of the mouthpiece
There is also another way if you really do not want teeth marks but many say it is hurtful. Double lip.. where your top teeth do not touch, I have used it before but it is not suitable for marching circumstances. You need the extra support from your teeth while marching.

different embouchures are for different things. In reference to marching, always use the standard, where your upper teeth touch the top of the mouthpiece. If you try and double lip while marching, you will fumble and not play very well at all. As for more of a concert setting, many of the best players in the world, i.e., Richard Stoltzman, Charles Neidich, Kalman Opperman, Eddie Daniels are all known to double lip at times. When done correctly it can often give a better tone and intonation. But when done poorly, it is an audiences worst nightmare. The pitch will drop and the tone will sound terrible. hope this helps

My clarinet teacher has a pad on his mouthpiece where his teeth would normally touch. I`m assuming that it`s to keep his mouthpiece undamaged (is that even a word?). I think you can buy them at any music store.