Clarinet Embourchure problem
23:42 on Wednesday, December 3, 2003
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(JJ)
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My clarinet embourchure doesn`t seem right, When I play for a while, my bite onto my lower lip starts hurting and leaves a painful line on the inside of it. I think it might be because I`m playing my clarinet with the bell sticking too far up. but could someone tell me if I`m doing anything wrong?
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
04:21 on Thursday, December 4, 2003
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(clarinetdude)
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hey the same thing happens to me! i think it`s because you`re biting the mouthpiece, exerting too much pressure with the upper teeth
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
14:37 on Thursday, December 4, 2003
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(Josh)
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is that considered a bad habit? or is it just a typical way of playing and you just have to tough it out
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
20:17 on Thursday, December 4, 2003
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(Rachel)
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Pinching the reed is an extremely bad habit. My last teacher spent ages curing me of it.
When you are playing, pull your chin downwards and back- if you look in a mirror the front of it should appear flat. This keeps your lower lip from clamping on the reed. You may also want to tuck less of your bottom lip over your teeth.
This will feel strange at first, but don`t be tempted to revert back to your old way of doing things- it will only cause problems.
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
20:44 on Friday, December 5, 2003
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(Josh)
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will your tone be affected by the sudden dropping of the jaw from your playing? So are you suppose to clench the mouthpiece with your lips only?
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
22:46 on Friday, December 5, 2003
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(Rachel)
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You shouldn`t be clamping at all- that is the whole point of pulling your jaw down. Your embouchure should be firm enough so that air doesn`t escape, but not pinched.
The jaw doesn`t drop suddenly- your chin should be pulled down and back right from when you start playing.
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
06:53 on Saturday, December 6, 2003
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(A Clarinetist)
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correct embrochure is you use every pinch of the muscle around your cheek and draw it back.but the middle of the lips where you place your mouthpiece should be stress.of course pressure will be there,but not too much.place your finger in the middle of the lips and feel.no hard pressure should be on your finger.when you got this correct.you will have a flat down in your tone.becoz you are not use to it.so when lesser pressure,air speed will be faster. so he formula is mouthpiece to the ratio of air speed.
Pressure<airspeed
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
06:59 on Saturday, December 6, 2003
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(A Clarinetist)
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amendment...haha...type too fast....
correct embrochure is you use every pinch of the muscle around your cheek and draw it back(to hold the mouthpiece by the side of the mouth more....not the lips).but the middle of the lips where you place your mouthpiece should be STRESSLESS.of course pressure will be there,but not too much.place your finger in the middle of the lips and feel.no hard pressure should be on your finger.when you got this correct.you will have a flat down in your tone.becoz you are not use to it.so when lesser pressure on the mouthpiece,air speed will be faster. so he formula is mouthpiece to the ratio of air speed.
Pressure<airspeed
when you need to make your pitch sharper but using pressure on the mouthpiece,try to bring the clarinet forward to bring pressure to your reed instead of biting it.(fulcrum method)
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
22:46 on Saturday, December 6, 2003
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(Rachel)
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An excellent explanation, and exactly what I was trying to say.
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Re: Clarinet Embourchure problem
00:26 on Sunday, December 7, 2003
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(Elizabeth)
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As a freshman clarinet performance major, my college professor has been changing every aspect of my embourchure. Like Rachelle and the other clarinet player, my teacher stressed how important it is NOT TO BITE THE REED! As the afore mentioned posters said, it is all about keeping your chin firm and flat. However, your tongue is another very important part of the picture. If your tongue is low in your mouth or tense in any way, the pitch will drop and you will have and awful sound slightly reminiscent of a screaming cat . Your tongue should be in a relaxed "e" position when you are playing. Practice saying the sound "eeeeee" away from the clarinet, then, keeping your tongue in the exact same spot, put the clarinet in your mouth and play the same way.
It has taken me five (long) months to even start getting this new kind of playing under control. However, IT IS WORTH IT!! Your playing will be so much easier and your tone will be 100% better. I practiced for 3 hours today and my lip didn`t hurt at all!
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