Here are 4 clarinet hacks that can greatly increase your student’s comfort and chance of success.
#1 Mouthpiece Patches
I LOVE mouthpiece patches! I don’t really care that they protect the mouthpiece (though this can be a nice bonus). I love them because it dulls the sense of vibration on the upper teeth. Many students do not anchor to their top teeth because they don’t want to feel the vibration. Adding a mouthpiece patch can fix that problem, and in turn improve their tone significantly in a short time.
There is a specific kind I like – not a brand necessarily, but there are 2 options and I definitely have a favorite. You’ll see a very thin, hard one that is often clear and a thicker, softer one that is usually black. Get the black ones! I’ve played on the clear and don’t feel like they help with vibration much at all. This is all about the comfort of the student so they are willing to play with a correct embouchure and black provides more of a cushion.
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