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I recently redid my trumpet embouchure?

What I want to know is, do you have any tips on getting back to form, and how long that should take.

I've basically redone everything I've been doing while playing trumpet (I've been playing for 3 years).

I moved my embouchure from a 50/50 setup to a 33/66 one, moved it about 2 mm to the right (where my natural aperture is).

I had a problem where whenever I played, the left side of my lip was hanging out (A LOT). I figured out that this was probably the result of 2 things: excessive pressure, and a strained jaw muscle while playing a high note (which was a result of excessive pressure).

So I've been drilling embouchure strength (pencil exercise etc.) and lip slurs over and over again. To clear up my tone, I'm doing a lot of long tones.

What I'm concerned with is that my range has gone with a high A to a middle C within a week, and you know, being in High school band that's a problem. I DO NOT want to rush or force my high notes like I did before, so I'm concerned about that.

I have also been training my airstream etc. and have redone my tounguing technique (from ta to the Arban-recommended tu).

So, being stuck at a middle C, do you have any tips for getting used to this new embouchure and any exercises I should do? Practicing schedule? (I practice for about 1 hour a day, depending on homework load).

Perhaps I'm being impatient, but do you think I can work my way up to an A by the end of the summer, middle E in 2 weeks?

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You have made a lot of changes all at once. It will take time. How long really depends on you.

    First off, let's address some basic mechanics. While the pencil exercise might help, doing too much of it can work against you. While it might help with lip strength, it hinders flexibility. The lips need to be able to move in order to provide the right kind of resistance to the airstream. One thing that often helps many players is to make certain that the teeth are open... about a pencil's width apart. This allows good air movement, and good lip movement. When we go higher, it is natural to want to close the teeth. However, it is even more important to keep the teeth apart in the upper register, because we need to be able to move the air faster. If we close the teeth, it really limits airflow, and it also limits lip movement.

    As for your practice schedule, an hour is adequate. However, I would highly recommend that you divide it into three 20 minute segments. Stick with your long tones and lips slurs, too. Scales, played slowly and as softly as possible will also help you to get things focused. Ascend only as high as you can play comfortably, and go back down the scale. The key is to play the scales as softly as possible, with a lot of control. Think of the airstream changing from a piece of clothesline in the lower register, working towards a piece of dental floss in the upper register. The lip aperture needs to be balanced to what the airstream is doing. Use only enough mouthpiece pressure to keep the lips sealed.

    Unless you have one lip significantly larger than the other, or your upper teeth significantly larger than your lower teeth, I would recommend that you stay with the 50/50 mouthpiece position. It almost sounds to me like you may need to make a mouthpiece change. However, it may be best to keep one thing constant.

    These are just a few suggestions to help you. Be honest with yourself and with others. If you get comments from your peers, tell them that you made a decision to improve your embouchure. If you stick with it, you will be successful. Be patient, and be consistent with your practice time.

    Best of luck to you!

    Source(s): Educator, performer, clinician.
  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    How previous are you? this may be through many stuff- from weight loss plan to a pair degenerative ailments* and desires to be addressed desirable away. Potassium deficiency could reason issues of this, as can dehydration. If the project persists, then you certainly ought to evaluate seeing your wellness care expert. something that certainly helped me with my embouchure (i used to be a tremendously solid horn participant...oh, the solid cases...) replaced into clarinet. i did no longer like the sound, inevitably, however the different muscle team of the mouth that it works may be susceptible. solid success:) * it is probable no longer through one among those ailment, as maximum are uncommon- look for horses in the past zebras!

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