How can I strengthen my lower lip?

trumpet_bob_silver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1055

Yes, just the lower lip. The part of the lower lip under the mouthpiece specifically.

geezer · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 166

trpt.hick · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject:

I suggest my 15 Advanced Embouchure Studies. They require a lot of loud lip bends that cause the lower lip (and rest of the embouchure) to pucker to the max. www.HickmanMusicEditions.com

David Hickman

Jerry Freedman · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 3:18 pm Post subject:

Pencil exercise

trumpet_bob_silver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1055

Oi...

Yes, I'm kind of looking for something like the pencil exercise. Except I'd have to be upsidedown...

I don't want the pencil putting any weight on the lower lip.

Although it might... I'm looking at it again now.

Even just firming up the lips is a positive I think.

My upper lip seems ok. The bottom one seems weak in the middle under the mouthpiece. Purposely firming it up has helped I think. I'm looking for more exercises.

A sideways pencil exercise might work too....

I've got plenty of etude books. This isn't something that's going to be a notated exercise necessarily... Or at least I'm not going to hunt down the exercise. The thing I'm looking for could be written out in words, like the pencil exercise.

It might not necessarily be something on the horn either. Pressure on the lower lip prevents the lip from being used. Followed by a collapse of everything or definitely things being off.

I've some other weird lips movements that do what I want while posting. If there are any more though...

dmb · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject:

I agree with your recommendation on lip bends.

Edited by Moderators to remove references to 2 deleted posts.
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trumpet_bob_silver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1055

Ah yes lip bends.

Quiet tones too.

Toothpick or coffee straw motions.

gigolaw · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject:

For me, when my embochuree is like this

, I feel like there is no strength on my lower lip. But w hen it becomes like this

, then I fell the support of the lower lip. Is this normal???
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razeontherock · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:12 pm Post subject:

JonathanM

trumpet_bob_silver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1055

Ah yes, I remember that from technique classes.

Clarinet too, a more rounded Oh embouchure shape.

Flute for a small aperture.

abontrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 574

Blow. Move some air. Make a good sound. The rest will follow.

trumpet_bob_silver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1055

That hasn't worked for me.

I found a giant flaw, possibly, last night. Use more air, good tone, etc., doesn't solve it. And it slipped by anyone who heard me play or worked with me in person on my range issue. This lower lip thing is relate, a part, but not the missing piece I may have found last night. If it is the missing piece, everything seemed to follow along, to fit into place, with it not being there. But it's looking glaringly obvious now.

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 601

To strengthen the lower lip you have to exercise the muscle groups involved. The pencil exercise is an excellent tool to accomplish this objective.

Problems encountered in playing the trumpet can be the result of a wide variety of conditions/problems. So you may find that strengthening your lower lip doesn't, in and of itself, cure whatever problems you're having.

But your question didn't isolate a particular problem, it addressed only the issue of strengthening your lower lip. So, I recommend the pencil exercise because it strongly involves and exercises the muscle groups which control the lower lip.
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drewwilkie86 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:50 am Post subject:

Why are you trying to tighten your lips when you play...?
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razeontherock · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:37 am Post subject:

thadjones1213 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:18 am Post subject:

I would suggest the Hickman book because in doing pitch bends it moves your vowel shape up forward which engages the buccinators naturally which is designed to support the circular muscle (oblicularis oris (spelling errors I am sure). It will also allow you to find that balance of the whole system because you are listening and experiencing what is happening when you return to a centered vibrant sound after bending.

The Hickman book really revealed a lot when I progressed to pitch bends from tuning C and above.

I would also look at it as becoming more efficient vs. strength building. When all the physical elements are coordinated together efficiently there isn't an overexertion on any one element.

All the best

HornnOOb

BrianCade

jocar37 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject:

P.E.T.E.
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