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Lower lip going soft

Author: Meri
Date: 2000-11-17 00:23

The last week or so, I have been experiencing a problem with the lower lip going soft on me, with the result that I lose the focus of sound that I have before it going soft on me.

Any ideas on how to solve/prevent this problem?

Meri

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RE: Lower lip going soft

Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-11-17 02:22

I don't know what your background or embouchure are like, but I stretch my lower lip tightly across my lower teeth when I create my embouchure. I avoid pushing up with the lower lip. I'm basically creating a hard base for the reed to rest upon. After the mouthpiece is in my mouth I draw in the corners to seal around the mouthpiece. When I tire it is the corners that go, and then I get leaks and I can hear air escaping, and yes, a loss of focus resulting from a loss of air pressure due to the leaks. I tire sometimes because I don't play for extended periods of time, so when I do I become fatigued. If I played longer without pausing I'd develop more muscle. I don't generally need it, so I don't care.

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RE: Lower lip going soft

Author: William
Date: 2000-11-17 14:26

After checking to be certain your embouchure is correct, perhaps all you need to do is to challange it, as in arobic excercise, by playing for more extended periods. Etudes are good for this, also (boring, but good for you) long tones. For me, it is my upper lip that "goes" first as I use a lot of upper support rather than just relying on my teeth. Keep blowing and, good luck.

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