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Re: Embouchure side pressure

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-10-08 07:00

It almost sounds like using a German mouthpiece would be the IDEAL solution for you. I was schooled by Bas DeJong of Viotto mouthpieces a few years ago about German playing. Basically none of them (Germanic players) understand our obsession with embouchure. They use a soft reed (ideally a Vandoren White Master 2 1/2) with a long facing and a very small tip opening ...........and "just blow."

Another aspect of this type of mouthpiece is that you do wind up opening up more to take in more mouthpiece. Again, with this VERY easy, light set up, there is really no "pressure" to speak of, side, up/down or otherwise. When I first tried this set up my initial reaction was, "Ha, it feels like beginner band all over again." But I realized (the next day actually) that I had gotten a really lovely sound and a wide dynamic range as well. After about a year with it, I was enamored enough with the concept to use this approach to embouchure and playing though I have since returned to French mouthpieces.

Just try out a Viotto N1 and see what you think.........it could be a game changer.

...............Paul Aviles

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