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Re: Embouchure help

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-10-21 18:51

Well people say I have a good sound. Newspapers too often comment after performances and these people are Music Critics. Often hated and yet loved.

So I'm bothered by what you wrote, because I feel your approach to your embouchure is wrong. " Within weeks that tooth would cut through the cushion." Let's get you fixed up and your lower lip probably hurts sometimes too, maybe even gets cut or worse it bleeds. Not a problem.

Wearing out a patch should never happen this fast, in a year or 2. You are biting and it's simply wrong. So lets develop a new approach maybe and learn not to bite and develop a new type of carefully constructed embouchure. It's actually easy.

I too think you are using too strong of a reed. I also suggest a double lip embouchure.

For a few weeks this will be wicked hard. But play long tones using a double lip and try taking in as much mouthpiece as you can until you literally squeak. Yes I want you to Squeak! scare the neighbors cat! Have fun! Then back the mouthpiece off just a tiny bit. This is about the ideal area. Yes you will slip back to your old embouchure so recheck and maybe not squeak the next time unless you hate cats! This approach lets the whole reed vibrate. My guess is you were using less mouthpiece and you are trying to control the reed too much so we all bite doing this. It's surprising how many people bite! I'd say over 90 percent of players don't put enough mouthpiece in their mouths so the results are always a slight biting problem to a major problem.

Don't go crazy. Only do this a few minutes per hour at first, because it's actually a shock to your embouchure. play the long tones softly the first week or 2 and look into a mirror and see where the mouthpiece is at. Try each day to place it in this same position because you will start to not bite anymore.

After the first week try to start the long tones soft, then to FFF > PPP. This will start building your upper lip muscles and there should never be any pain. Start off ppp if you encounter any form of pain. Always listen to your sound. Maybe tape yourself. Then visit your sound by take again in 3 months, 5 months, and in a year. You won't be the same player and no more holes in patches.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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