Callet lesson: jaw position

[elgin]

I had a lesson with Jerry last Thursday. All the stories I've heard about Jerry and Yumiko being kind and hospitable are absolutely true. My wife, Carol, had a wonderful time visiting with Yumiko while I had a very productive lesson. 

Jerry spent most of the time talking about jaw position. Having studied with Stevens and Reinhardt, I've been playing with a forward jaw position for decades. Personally, the high horn angle is an attempt to keep the mp from slipping down on my upper lip, but as Jerry explained Thur, it causes a problem for MSC. Jerry actually told me in a phone lesson (having never seen me play) to pull my jaw back to ascend, but I couldn't make the connection

Here's the problem with the too-forward jaw with MSC. In MSC, ascending is accomplished by pressing the tip of the curled tongue against the bottom tip, which causes the top of the tongue to compress against the top lip and teeth. However, if the jaw is too far forward, it causes two problems.  

First problem: Since the tongue is connected to be jaw, pushing the jaw forward can push the tongue too far forward. The angles are wrong (my words) to properly press down on the lower lip, which is supposed to force the top of the tongue against the top lip and teeth. MSC breaks down. 

Second problem: Even if you can manage to press the tip of the tongue against the lower lip while the jaw is thrust forward, the tongue tip would have to reach forward of the protruding teeth, and at that angle, the tongue may be pressing more forward than down. The effect would be one of pushing the lower lip forward; away from the top lip. The harder you press, the further out of position the lower lip would be. And, even if the lower lip could resist it, the angles would still not efficiently assist the top of the tongue in pressing up against the top lip and teeth. MSC breaks down. 

Additional Benefit: The opening between the teeth is effectively larger when the jaw is receded. (think 3-dimensionally)  So, a forward jaw would have a smaller effective teeth opening. In other words, even if you inadvertently closed the teeth too much, the slightly receded jaw would minimize the effects of this error. 

The last thing Jerry talked about was my tendency to squeeze my lips together. For me, I believe this was an unconscious attempt to compensate for the forward and closed jaw. Lip-to-lip compression is not MSC.  When I was able to keep my jaw in its natural slightly receded position and didn't squeeze my lips together, my sound really opened up!

Now, to make it a habit...
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[tptguy]

I always, always, always thought that my significantly receded lower jaw was my big problem. All my teachers previous to Jerry completely agreed. They gave me lots of exercises to "fix it" - all hugely unsuccessful. Jerry was the first and only one to tell me that I should always leave my jaw in its natural position. He then told me how to fix my embouchure from there. It took me a long time to believe that my receded jaw could actually be an advantage. But now it is. And that's 100% due to Jerry's insight. - Kyle

[elgin]

Thanks Kyle for the reply. I agree. It's all about fixing the tongue, not the jaw.
Elgin
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