Brass Embouchures Chapter 5 of 6

Brass Embouchures Chapter 5 of 6

Brass Embouchures, A Guide for Teachers and Players

This 6 part video series is the slide show presentation of David Wilken's session for the North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 8, 2009. In its entirety, this 50 minute presentation covers basic brass embouchure characteristics and how teachers and players can use an understanding of functioning brass embouchures to improve playing and correct problems.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• embouchure
• brass
• airstream
• upstream
• downstream
• trumpet
• trombone
• horn
• tuba
• pedagogy

[JazzyBlues420]

@Titurel porter does have a video that shows his embouchure.. do some youtube research. i dont think his mouthpiece could be any more clear than the one he uses.

@hotlipsporter im with u on this 7 month old debate. i watched about 10 seconds of this video and saw ur comment sayin what it said. and i just paused it because your right on this, knowing me, been wanting to playa trumpet and finally got one 4 days ago, buzzing sucked, and your video boosted my technique and helped me right away

[wilktone]

@JazzyBlues420 Rim visualizers are not as accurate as a transparent mouthpiece, particularly for players like Charlie Porter, who places his mouthpiece pretty close to half and half. Besides, the video I saw Porter just blows air, doesn't buzz, which doesn't really show us much either.

[hotlipsporter]

I'm sorry to say that I think you are misguided and might be misguiding some others too. Changing someone's mouthpiece position is a serious thing. Simply having the trumpet player on one of your videos even out his bottom lip with the top one would solve his issue, yet you sit there moving his mouthpiece around. There is no sense in changing someone's mouthpiece position when the basic physics of how they are playing can be adjusted much much more easily.

[wilktone]

@hotlipsporter YouTube's comments area is really a poor medium for intellectual debate. If you'd like to continue, please find an appropriate post at my web site (see my profile for URL).

I think you may be misunderstanding many of my points. I'm guessing you haven't watched all 6 chapters. If so, sorry. If not, I'd like to again invite you to. Some of your concerns may already be addressed.

Thanks for your interest.

[hotlipsporter]

actually, I've seen myself in one of those mouthpieces as well as several types of visualizers. My chops stay one on top of the other now, which is why I have a usable five octave range. You might want to really reconsider some things. Of all of my former teachers, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, and Laurie Frink included, they kept their chops aligned. Aperture is the key. Best of luck to you. I hope you figure it out.

[wilktone]

@hotlipsporter I've seen Jon Faddis in a transparent mouthpiece. He's an upstream player. So is Wynton Marsalis. Not seen Laurie Finks embouchure.

Please try watching the whole 6 chapters, if you haven't already. Playing *sensations* (e.g., "keep your chops aligned") do not reflect how brass embouchures actually function.

Thanks for watching!

[dham75]

I am a new/old band director out of the closet after 30 years of general music. I was looking for something on teaching brass students. I previously saw how the lips do NOT produce the tone, and the center should stay loose. It is the corners that need to do the work, not the lips. Looks like motion in the lips detracts from the vibrations and the sound. If you make an M and then blow your lips with a small hole, nothing will come out, but when you bring the whole horn to the lips

[prt1667]

I have around a medium-high embouchure and having trouble smiling, I guess I'll practice buzzing everyday, any other advice you could add?

[JazzyBlues420]

@wilktone and hey wilk, how much do u think a Roth Trumpet from 1944 near mint condition could go for these days? you know, price? i do believe Roth trumpets only made horns for about 2 years until they sold there brand to another name, forgot what name it was, still had "roth" in the name though. familiar with roth?

[JazzyBlues420]

@wilktone it showed me how play a simple tone with ease. buzzing was messing me up big time. and was building up a blister on my bottom lip from practicing. thank you Jesus for Carmex chapstick. that stuff really works in situations like that

[Titurel]

Going to have to side with wilktone on this debate with hotlipsporter ( I a think hot lips is a great player and everyone should check out his vids!)

Every person I've ever seen on a visualizer blows upstream or down; Porter may FEEL he is blowing straight through all the time but I be willing to bet he blow downstream just from watching him.

He could settle the debate by post a vid of himself with a clear mouthpiece. I'd love to see it!