Research

In the Fall of 2015, I began a collaboration with a group of scientists from the Speech-Language Pathology Department at the University of Toronto. The general project is called Oral dynamics in clarinet playing: Developing a new, evidence-based teaching method. The research is geared toward fostering a better understanding of the clarinet embouchure in order to further advance woodwind pedagogy.

1. **INTRODUCTION:** Clarinet playing technique (skills that can be acquired by practice) consists of two main aspects: the finger-technique and the embouchure (a relation of mouth, tongue) [**Read more**]

2. RESEARCH GOALS: All existing attempts to examine the inside of player’s mouth (in real-time) while playing to date have left us insufficient knowledge based on objective measurements to accomplish any of the presented research goals to a satisfactory degree. [**Read more**]

3. **METHODS**: Over two years, a total of 10 clarinetists (5 high level professionals and 5 students) will be recruited to investigate the role of oral structures like jaw, lips and tongue in defining proper embouchure for playing the clarinet. [**Read more**]

Benefits — 4. **RESEARCH BENEFITS**: At the end of the two-year period, we will have sufficient data collected to understand how a well-balanced embouchure works, therefore, will be able to incorporate it into a new method book helping players to gain more control over their mouth articulators while playing. [Read more]

Team members — **MEET THE TEAM**: Dr. Pascal van Lieshout, Kornel Wolak, Dr. Aravind Namasivayam, Dr. Anneke Slis [**Read more**]

VIDEO: Unraveling the Mystery of the Clarinet Embouchure (part 1)