Rare Type IV - Pivot Class I?

[Aj]

Been researching the teachings of Doc Reinhardt and cannot figure out which type I am. I can also ascend using either pivot but #1 seems more comfortable and most common. I am a little unsure if I have a high placement or low.

Due to a protruding top lip, I basically slide the mouthpiece into position from above, rim is quite close to red, but looks pretty even when I am playing (Type IVA?). I feels I my aperture is blowing above the centre of the mouthpiece indicating a low placement. I have a normal size overbite at rest. I play with a more pucker, 'Maggio style' bottom lip, directing airstream upwards (protruding bottom teeth as I ascend, however never out past the top teeth)

Me using Pivot I (upwards to ascend)- Tone stays open, intonation a little compressed and flat once I reach High C. Freer blowing, perhaps more comfortable.

Me using Pivot II (Downwards to ascend) - Tone thins out however High C is more in Tune. Feels a little tight, but works.

Type IIIs: Lower teeth receded beneath uppers in their natural positions and playing positions. All downstream.

III: "Jelly roll type". Low horn angle. Mouthpiece a trifle lower than IIIA and IIIB. More upper lip than lower in the mouthpiece. Looks like a half and half placement from outside the mouthpiece. A lot of orchestral players are type IIIs...resonant sound. Pivot Classification I or II. Downstream.

IIIB: Horn angle slightly below horizontal but higher than type III. More upper lip than lower in the mouthpiece. Pivot Class II...no exceptions! Downstream. Mouthpiece slightly lower than Type IIIA. Downstream.

IIIA: High mouthpiece placement. More upper lip than lower in the mouthpiece. Pivot Class I...no exceptions! Flat horn angle. Downstream. When viewed through plexiglass MP...85% upper lip, 15% lower lip. When viewed from outside the MP looks more like 75% upper lip, 25% lower lip.

IVA: Lower teeth recede beneath uppers in playing position. Very low MP placement (85% lower, 15% upper). Pivot class II with very rare exceptions. Horn angle below horizontal. Upstream.


There doesn't seem to be a category for low placement, overbite with Pivot 1. (IVA??) It would be interesting to find out if I have been unconsciously using two pivots and by concentrating on one approach will I improve overall consistency. OR I need to work on placing my mouthpiece higher.

Once discovered, what kinds of training drills do these embouchure types concentrate on?
_________________
Mr Inbetween

[Doug Elliott]

All of those descriptions are "typical" but don't necessarily apply to every example, there is quite a bit of variation. And what it looks like (or feels like) from the outside is not necessarily what's happening inside.

In your case I would really need to see it.