Should I change my embouchure?

razeontherock · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:57 pm Post subject:

To me it sounds like the OP needs to be willing to play good and strong, to develop an upper register. Bill Adam talked about mpc pressure being ok as long as there was as much energy in your sound. Maybe you need some pressure, and volume, to develop the knack of playing in the upper register? I certainly did.

I agree with those saying develop what you've got, and forget all about changing your embouchure. Proper mechanics work wonders!

JoshMizruchi · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 5:52 pm Post subject:

I agree that if you are playing the way you describe, there is nothing wrong with your embouchure. Definitely do not change your embouchure. Embouchure technique is very subtle, and sometimes you just need a couple small tweaks to your approach that could make a huge difference.

I haven't seen or heard you play, so I have no idea what you're actually doing, but from what you've described, it's possible you may be playing less efficiently than you could be. Now, when I talk about efficiency, I mean getting the most for the energy you're putting into your sound production.

Having studied a lot in the commercial side of things, I had to learn the importance of aperture control. Basically, if the space between your lips gets too open and big it makes it harder to play high. Sounds simple, but it's true. If you take a balloon and fill it with air, and hold the end, it makes that squeaky noise. If you blow it up and just let it go, you get whoopee cushion sound (and the balloon flies around the room). Goofy example I realize, but the same concept holds true with trumpet, minus the flying around the room of course.

Because orchestral players have to produce such big, broad sounds in the low and middle register, becoming too "spread" can become very easy. This can limit the range and inhibit endurance.

Quiet playing is good for aperture efficiency and control, but it must be balanced with practice at other volumes, especially if you're not doing performances with a lot of loud high playing (like a lead player might).

There are exercises I did to help me with my embouchure spreading issues, but I am afraid to share them on here because without the proper direction, they could do more harm than good. This is not stuff you tell people to do willy-nilly over the internet.

If you're in Michigan, you might look up Bill Lucas of the Detroit Symphony and take some lessons with him. He'd probably be a good guy to talk to for you because he is a very efficient player who is doing what you want to do. He helped me, as a matter of fact, with similar issues when I was younger. You might also contact Chris LaBarbera, who is an excellent commercial player, for a Skype lesson on efficiency. Chris is also one of the most efficient players I know and his skills will rub off on you. Where in Michigan are you? I grew up in Ann Arbor.

Anyway, keep on keepin' on and keep your eye on the goal, but enjoy the journey. It definitely takes time and patience is a virtue.
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Josh Mizruchi
http://www.joshmizruchi.com