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kevin_soda
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 558
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 7:17 am Post subject: Embouchure Air leaks... |
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What's your take on leaky embouchure? Is is "symptomatic of a potential issue" or "who cares, just blow"?
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Bflatman
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Nov 2016
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| Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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What is an air leak.
It is the uncontrolled release of air that could be used to sound a note.
It stems from an underdeveloped embouchure. Two apertures exist in the lips when there is a leak, one in the mouthpiece and that forms the double reed we use to play. The second is the leak aperture outside the mouthpiece.
In a strong well developed embouchure this leak aperture would not occur.
Does it indicate a problem, in itself no, many players have a leak and this occurs generally as more air is used moving up the staff. It does however point to an area that may need work.
This is just opinion as I am not a teacher. |
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dstdenis
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Joined: 25 May 2013
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Location: Atlanta GA
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 1:37 am Post subject: |
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If you just get a little spurt of air occasionally, very rarely, I wouldn't worry about it. If the leaking is becoming more persistent, I would try to understand what's happening. It could be a sign of chronic fatigue from too much playing, not enough rest, for example. Not saying that's why you're getting leaks, but this is just an example of what to look out for and why you'd want to figure it out.
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gstump
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2006
Posts: 934
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| Bflatman wrote: | What is an air leak.
It is the uncontrolled release of air that could be used to sound a note.
It stems from an underdeveloped embouchure. Two apertures exist in the lips when there is a leak, one in the mouthpiece and that forms the double reed we use to play. The second is the leak aperture outside the mouthpiece.
In a strong well developed embouchure this leak aperture would not occur.
Does it indicate a problem, in itself no, many players have a leak and this occurs generally as more air is used moving up the staff. It does however point to an area that may need work.
This is just opinion as I am not a teacher. |
That's right Bflatman. Think of it as a safety valve. It usually occurs when we are asking the embouchure to do something it is not strong enough to do just yet. Rather than bruise or cut the lip or damage the muscles and nerves, the safety valve blows off the steam!
Cheers,
Gordon Stump
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trombahonker
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 1480
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Embouchure Air leaks... |
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| kevin_soda wrote: | | What's your take on leaky embouchure? Is is "symptomatic of a potential issue" or "who cares, just blow"? |
It's not a "potential issue" - it is an issue, and is symptomatic of instability elsewhere. Give us some more info. Is it only in the high register? Middle register quiet playing? Low register loud playing? Be specific and descriptive.
Mid and low register, I think very focused lip-bends are the road to solving this. It's a matter of engaging the control points more and getting your embouchure more forward and tongue position correct. Upper register leaking can be a slew of other issues.
~A |
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BBB1976
Veteran Member
Joined: 30 May 2016
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 5:25 am Post subject: Embouchure air leaks.... |
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| Build up some muscle. Arban characteristic studies should do it! Recommended to me from Haken Hardenberger. |
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John Mohan
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2001
Posts: 9830
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Embouchure Air leaks... |
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| kevin_soda wrote: | | What's your take on leaky embouchure? Is is "symptomatic of a potential issue" or "who cares, just blow"? |
I really would have to see and hear you play to know how much of a leak you have and whether or not it is really effecting your playing before I could make a valid opinion comment. If you have a Webcam we could use Skype. PM me if you want to get together for a few minutes (no cost).
Cheers,
John Mohan
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kevin_soda
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 558
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 8:48 am Post subject: |
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It's not a regular thing and it's never posed a problem. I was just curious. For me it seems to occur in the middle/low register earlier in the day when I'm trying to make easy sound doing longtones and whatnot I'm probably just a little tight. Maybe I need to look at my warm up a little. Thanks for all the feedback.
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JoseLindE4
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Joined: 18 Apr 2003
Posts: 791
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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Who was the famous trumpet player who would spray his section mates with his leaks?
If it hurts or there are playing problems, that's one thing, but if there's nothing wrong with what's coming out of the bell, I don't see a problem.
If all else fails, get an epoxy. |
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John Mohan
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Joined: 13 Nov 2001
Posts: 9830
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| JoseLindE4 wrote: | Who was the famous trumpet player who would spray his section mates with his leaks?
If it hurts or there are playing problems, that's one thing, but if there's nothing wrong with what's coming out of the bell, I don't see a problem.
If all else fails, get an epoxy. |
I'm not sure if this is who you are thinking of but during my lessons with Claude Gordon, when the subject of air leaking out the corners came up (I used to have this happen sometimes), Claude jokingly said to me that they're probably still cleaning the spit from the walls in the CBS Studios where he used to work. |
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