Erik Nugent

The western low brass world has been experimenting with didgeridoo techniques on their trombones and tubas for decades. These instruments can sustain vocal multiphonics, but have never been able to produce a satisfactory range of formant overtones. Formants are created by shaping the tongue and throat into a series of distinct, discrete shapes that emphasize certain frequencies in the overtone series. It is the much larger bore of the didgeridoo that makes loud formant overtones possible, and the nu mouthpiece approaches this large bore with a shank that wraps around the outside of the leadpipe instead of inserting into it like every other brass mouthpiece. The didgeridoo also heavily employs the technique of circular breathing, which the flat nature of traditional brass mouthpieces don't exactly facilitate. The nu mouthpiece is crafted with a curved rim to curb any escape of air while circular breathing.