I thank you , Michelle for all the precious videos you put on TH-cam .Each time I look at one it allows me to correct a bad habit and improve my playing (I'm a French beginner of 66 years old ). Thanks a lot for that . Jean Rigaud
Thanks Michelle. I played " double lips" for about Two years until I went to Mr James Joseph, principal clarinet of the Northern Sinfonia in the UK. He switched me immediately to "single lips" Within a couple of weeks I could play much better and longer! I suspect that "double lip" playing came into being because the early players played with the reed on the top of the mouthpiece. Some of the early players were probably oboe players who continued to play with oboe embouchure. Try playing your clarinet with the reed uppermost and your teeth on top of the reed! Doesn't sound very nice or feel very nice. Thanks for your videos Michelle. God bless - Bill - UK
The videos with Michelle are very good. Even if you have played for many years, there is always a video by her that you can learn from. Embouchure is especially good - to be conscious of every part that’s involved. Not only so you can teach it, but also never forget yourself, how to do it exactly right. The embouchure is absolutely critical to not only a good sound, but also intonation & articulation! Thanks to Backun for bringing Michelle’s knowledge forward to our attention.
This is really informative. I’ve played sax for a few years and get a nice tone. I bought an E13 clarinet and seem to be reasonably ok with the fingering although very cramped compared with the sax. I could not understand why sometimes l got very clear notes mid register but then it sounded very muffled. I put it down to the basic mouthpiece but now l know a very different technique is needed for clarinet embouchure.
Dear Michelle. I have not been playing for over 25 years and now I am starting again. Thanks to your teaching which, are perfectly clear, it is a lot easier! Thank you!! There are plenty of tricks which I have never heard of my teacher and some relaly different ways as what to do with the mouth (lower lip). I am looking forward to test it now.
These videos are so helpful! I played clarinet up through highschool and played well. I'm now 59 and trying to pick it back up to play with the praise team in church. These videos have been excellent! My question is, where can I get one of those tuners?
Thank you so much , my teachers never taught me this I have a question , how do you get louder without over blowing and relax while your playing because I get tense easily and I try to relax but it affects the sound
Such a great question! We want our shoulders, arms, and fingers very relaxed when we play. When we use firmer air, we tend to tense up other muscles that can interfere with good clarinet playing. This can also cause "biting" on the reed with our jaw. A great way to train your body is to play long, slow notes while looking in a mirror. Consciously relax your shoulders and arms while you play, but at the same time focus on very fast steady air (which engages the blowing muscles around your abs). You need to teach your body to have firm air, but relaxed other stuff. You can do it, but it takes regular commitment.
Yep! I think that clarinetists who bend pitch do it with a combination of tongue position, jaw opening, and even describe being as open in the throat as possible. It definitely involves changing the oral cavity.
How do you get your tone tone more mellow or dark?My band director said he doesn't like my tone because it sounds to happy and bright.I use a V12 3.5+ or 4 with a M13 lyre and a Rovner Versa ligature.Could you judge my tone on one of my uploads,please?
There are many things that affect tone, and this video gives some pointers. One of the most important things for a serious student such as yourself is to simply know how you want to sound. There are some amazing clarinetists in the world, all with slightly different tone qualities. You should find some players to listen to that you like. Many of the videos here on the BackunMusical channel feature some great players, and you will hear slight differences between them. Listen to the sounds you like, and you will naturally start to emulate that sound. Often, clarinet tone can be made darker with more attention to voicing. If you have not worked on this much, get your tongue more into the "HEEE" position.
I have never been able to play my clarinet without supporting it and it is still difficult to play standing. Part of that I think is because I play sitting down in Orchestra? Any ideas of how to make it work playing without external support of the clarinet
I played the clarinet for 10 years, starting in elementary school. I always hated the sound but they didn't have a flute to buy at the band store so my mom made me get the clarinet. The clarinet always sounds shrill to me and I've been to many classical music concerts with solo clarinet. I also don't like the overt demarcation between the lower and higher registers. I prefer the sound of the flute and oboe. My favorite wind instrument, however, is the Duduk... they didn't have that at the band store either.
I am currently facing a problem. 😅 I am playing lower notes lets say “low G” and goes through higher key example “high D” is fine. However when I play from lower key to higher key (with staccato or accent), it will squeak for a short period and after that it’s fine. What’s the problem with me? Any solution / advice? Thanks! ☺️
BAHAHA "the way i work with my clarinet students is i tell them, 'everytime they put it in their mouth, before they blow, just pull it down.'" so worth it...lmao
I love the lessons and am learning much, but your videographer needs to unlearn some things. There seems to be a modern school of film that is teaching everyone that it is OK and even preferable to cutaway to a side view of the subject while they continue to talk, looking off into space rather than at the audience. Two cameras are fine as long as you are looking into the one that's active. Anything else is a bit pitiful, as though the floor director failed to tell the subject which camera to look into. In short, it's a distraction. It always looks like a mistake.
This approach is a good way to ruin anyone's chance to play well. Embouchure is a matter of hearing a beautiful tone, feeling, relaxation, and finding your own voice.
I thank you , Michelle for all the precious videos you put on TH-cam .Each time I look at one it allows me to correct a bad habit and improve my playing (I'm a French beginner of 66 years old ). Thanks a lot for that .
Jean Rigaud
Thanks for the kind words, Jean. I hope you are enjoying your clarinet!
great job explaining voicing and tongue position!
I've been playing about six months, I have a personal tutor but you have helped a lot.
Thank you!
Thanks Michelle. I played " double lips" for about Two years until I went to Mr James Joseph, principal clarinet of the Northern Sinfonia in the UK. He switched me immediately to "single lips" Within a couple of weeks I could play much better and longer! I suspect that "double lip" playing came into being because the early players played with the reed on the top of the mouthpiece. Some of the early players were probably oboe players who continued to play with oboe embouchure. Try playing your clarinet with the reed uppermost and your teeth on top of the reed! Doesn't sound very nice or feel very nice. Thanks for your videos Michelle. God bless - Bill - UK
12 minutes of clarinet magic
The videos with Michelle are very good. Even if you have played for many years, there is always a video by her that you can learn from. Embouchure is especially good - to be conscious of every part that’s involved. Not only so you can teach it, but also never forget yourself, how to do it exactly right. The embouchure is absolutely critical to not only a good sound, but also intonation & articulation! Thanks to Backun for bringing Michelle’s knowledge forward to our attention.
This is really informative. I’ve played sax for a few years and get a nice tone. I bought an E13 clarinet and seem to be reasonably ok with the fingering although very cramped compared with the sax. I could not understand why sometimes l got very clear notes mid register but then it sounded very muffled. I put it down to the basic mouthpiece but now l know a very different technique is needed for clarinet embouchure.
Thanks thanks thanks, my students are gonna be thankfull with this tecnics expleined like this.
Dear Michelle. I have not been playing for over 25 years and now I am starting again. Thanks to your teaching which, are perfectly clear, it is a lot easier! Thank you!! There are plenty of tricks which I have never heard of my teacher and some relaly different ways as what to do with the mouth (lower lip). I am looking forward to test it now.
Tha k you so much! 35 and starting to play the clarinet te
Thank you, Michelle , I am going to try all your teachings with my beginners thank you!!@
some great hints for students thanks
These videos are so helpful! I played clarinet up through highschool and played well. I'm now 59 and trying to pick it back up to play with the praise team in church. These videos have been excellent! My question is, where can I get one of those tuners?
Thanks so much for your lessons on You Tube.
What is a decent clarinet model for an intermediate level student.
Great Job of explaining. I agree with everything you said.
Thank you so much , my teachers never taught me this I have a question , how do you get louder without over blowing and relax while your playing because I get tense easily and I try to relax but it affects the sound
Such a great question! We want our shoulders, arms, and fingers very relaxed when we play. When we use firmer air, we tend to tense up other muscles that can interfere with good clarinet playing. This can also cause "biting" on the reed with our jaw. A great way to train your body is to play long, slow notes while looking in a mirror. Consciously relax your shoulders and arms while you play, but at the same time focus on very fast steady air (which engages the blowing muscles around your abs). You need to teach your body to have firm air, but relaxed other stuff. You can do it, but it takes regular commitment.
So, notes can be bent with the tongues position causing changes to the air-stream and dimensions of the mouth cavity.
Yep! I think that clarinetists who bend pitch do it with a combination of tongue position, jaw opening, and even describe being as open in the throat as possible. It definitely involves changing the oral cavity.
Excellent advice Thanks so much
How do you get your tone tone more mellow or dark?My band director said he doesn't like my tone because it sounds to happy and bright.I use a V12 3.5+ or 4 with a M13 lyre and a Rovner Versa ligature.Could you judge my tone on one of my uploads,please?
There are many things that affect tone, and this video gives some pointers. One of the most important things for a serious student such as yourself is to simply know how you want to sound. There are some amazing clarinetists in the world, all with slightly different tone qualities. You should find some players to listen to that you like. Many of the videos here on the BackunMusical channel feature some great players, and you will hear slight differences between them. Listen to the sounds you like, and you will naturally start to emulate that sound. Often, clarinet tone can be made darker with more attention to voicing. If you have not worked on this much, get your tongue more into the "HEEE" position.
I would suggest using a Rovner Dark ligature. If it's made of leather ,then you have the right ome
JustAnotherClarinetist dang, 3.5
Try using 56’s
@@m..w6877 uhhhhhhhh!
I have never been able to play my clarinet without supporting it and it is still difficult to play standing. Part of that I think is because I play sitting down in Orchestra? Any ideas of how to make it work playing without external support of the clarinet
I played the clarinet for 10 years, starting in elementary school. I always hated the sound but they didn't have a flute to buy at the band store so my mom made me get the clarinet. The clarinet always sounds shrill to me and I've been to many classical music concerts with solo clarinet. I also don't like the overt demarcation between the lower and higher registers. I prefer the sound of the flute and oboe. My favorite wind instrument, however, is the Duduk... they didn't have that at the band store either.
U are the best! Thank u! But i cant figure out how to put mu tongue in that position, its kind anormal i think
What kind of barrel do you use?
Hi! When i make the "hee" tongue position, i just can get no useful sound, only squeaks.
Arthur Accioly Pereira be careful that you don’t close your throat off when you do the shape with you mouth
Why is the piece directly beneath the mouthpiece in her clarinet different?
This is a cocobolo barrel so it's a different wood than the rest of the instrument.
@@backunmusical Does it would affect the tone of the clarinet?
I am currently facing a problem. 😅
I am playing lower notes lets say “low G” and goes through higher key example “high D” is fine.
However when I play from lower key to higher key (with staccato or accent), it will squeak for a short period and after that it’s fine.
What’s the problem with me? Any solution / advice? Thanks! ☺️
Whata your setup?
BAHAHA "the way i work with my clarinet students is i tell them, 'everytime they put it in their mouth, before they blow, just pull it down.'" so worth it...lmao
So I just recently got braces and I will have to have them for two years. How can I improve my sound with braces making it super difficult?
Good luck with your braces! To contact Michelle directly please see her website at www.clarinetmentors.com
“Maximum blob”
you are charming
Thanks I will do better from this.
I love the lessons and am learning much, but your videographer needs to unlearn some things. There seems to be a modern school of film that is teaching everyone that it is OK and even preferable to cutaway to a side view of the subject while they continue to talk, looking off into space rather than at the audience. Two cameras are fine as long as you are looking into the one that's active. Anything else is a bit pitiful, as though the floor director failed to tell the subject which camera to look into. In short, it's a distraction. It always looks like a mistake.
Thank you very much for your feedback!
tony p is way better
This approach is a good way to ruin anyone's chance to play well. Embouchure is a matter of hearing a beautiful tone, feeling, relaxation, and finding your own voice.
uh
Agree. But some generál basics for embouchure to achieve classical sound should bé there. Of course then the tóne is due to what you hear.