Dave, you are right in general, but when it comes to the "professional" question, lip size, overbite, crooked teeth matter a lot, as these factors diminish ideal physical conditions to be a brass player. Crooked teeth can be corrected. Overbite or worse underbite cannot be corrected nor can too thick lips be corrected. Why sticking with the horn then if these kind of lips would fit better for another brass instrument ? Why go the crazy hard way which will result in traumatic diseases often ? Why do the things with handicap if you could become a champion with another instrument ? Why one wants to live with a daily heavy workload just to prepare for the real task (two hours embouchure work, life long, BEFORE the rehearsal or performance ? Will this be the right condition for real artistic work ??? I really doubt that.
Is this a satisfying life, if the "un gifted" has to hammer-in all phrases, because he or she has absolutely no musical feeling but wants to be a good player. Look for tasks, where you find you at ease. Then you will have GREAT FUN WORKING HARD, as the result will please you AND the listeners, as it comes naturally not just LEARNED or HAMMERED-IN. The same is with too thick lips. You can get a reasonable up to medium good embouchure, but for WHAT a PRICE. MASOCHISTS might like that way. Thatīs like with the "completely anti-musical" kids, who shake their body with the music, but completely out of rhythm, - but Pa, Ma & Grandma wonder "how musical the kid were". And the "malaise" started then ...... Or the conductor, who drinks several glasses champagne plus some strong espresso before the concert, and trashes his arms around hysterically during the symphony (Mr.Bean does it much better) - the audience goes crazy thinking he makes great music, but all be real shit. Dear folks, you are missing the real comparison for musicality, gift, tone culture, culture per se. Everything would be fine, with conductors, gifted & ungifted players, thick or thin lips, IF THE SAME PERSONS WOULD NOT COMPLAIN (because of their difficulties, problems). But their complain is a bit MODIFIED & directed at equipment instead against THEMSELVES. PS: minus 3 degrees Celsius tonight in Munich (Oct.15th) ============================================================ -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Valenza Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 3:55 PM To: The Horn List Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Lip Size OK, how about a discussion of teeth and mouth configuration as a deterrent to succesful horn playing, e.g. overbite, underbite, crooked teeth, etc. Charles Valenza ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:57 AM Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Lip Size For the last time, can we puh-lease put this old wive's tale to rest? Large, fleshy lips do not exclude you from playing horn or trumpet or any other "small" cup mouthpiece instrument. This is a total and utter myth. Physical size sometimes does matter, but by the time a person is grown to maturity it is rarely an issue. Who writes this stuff with such seeming authority when they are totally wrong? Dave Weiner Brass Arts Unlimited, Inc. Baltimore, MD _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno%40rochester.rr.com _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hans.pizka%40t-online.de _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
