Whistler’s Embouchure

On embouchure formation.

A recent post at Julia Rose’s blog makes an interesting observation about horn players and their thoughts on embouchures.

It’s a shame that the trumpet world can talk about embouchure experimentation openly, while in the horn world it gets shot down as blasphemy.

I wish that as a teacher I had x-ray eyes like Superman and I could see inside a student’s embouchure … but alas, I do not and can not.

[ Pictured above-right: a variation of Whister's Mother. Click the image for a larger view. Who is in the wall picture? ]

While some teachers and players may like to think that they have definitive answers for everyone, the truth is that there are only general guidelines. The specifics of embouchure exist in a state of flux; facial muscles, teeth and oral cavities hidden behind the flesh can vary greatly from person to person, there can be no “one size fits all” approach.

Most agree on the general mechanics and setup of the embouchure, yet there are many disagreements on the finer specifics – for example, when it comes to issues like air stream direction, lip roll and mouthpiece pressure. I like very much this term “balanced embouchure” as it implies a standard dictated by equilibrium.

Imagine for example two tight-rope walkers, one wieghing 100 pounds at 5 feet tall, while another weighs 250 pounds and is 6.5 feet tall. Would these two walkers be expected to use the same balance bar, walking pace and foot technique? What if it were a very windy day on the tightrope?

While their general techniques may be similar, their internal mechanics will differ because of their different physiologies.

For this reason I prefer a less rigid, less analytical approach to embouchure. Individual physical differences – in the teeth, lips, jaw shape, etc. – can greatly affect whether a particular “embouchure school” will work for a particular student.

With this issue, I imagine that our string, keyboard and percussion colleagues are at a distinct advantage; everything that is involved in producing their sounds may be seen and analyzed with the naked eye.

While there are some trouble signs to watch for, there is no “one size fits all” method that works equally well across the board. If you are a student looking for solutions to embouchure concerns, bear in mind that there may be more than one answer.

With an astute teacher as a guide, it may take time and patience to find the right balance.