I think Wendell would agree that the best thing is to see a good teacher. His
placement advice works for most, but not all players. For example, if you have
a very thin lower lip and short lower teeth, you'd wind up with the edge of the
mouthpiece at the upper edge of the lower teeth. And air leaks.
Herb Foster
--- Wendell Rider [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
On Oct 10, 2005, at 7:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
subject: [Hornlist] Leaks and Low Range
Hi list,
I was in a horn class this past Saturday and my teacher's
substitute
noticed that I had leaks in my embouchure. I always thought
something was weird
because every time I tried to play in the low range, I would hear
a funny
noise. I have been trying to develop my low range but I know this
leak situation
is a problem. I believe this is the reason why I haven't really
obtained
anything close to an average sound and air capacity to control or
even play
notes in this range. Because of these leaks I can't play anything
below an F
below middle C. What should I do to solve this problem? Would more
air also help
in the low range?
Your Hornliness
James
Hey James,
You have received some good advice so far about your problem but I
think the problem may be a bit deeper as you describe it. My concern
is that your embouchure may not be set up correctly to begin with.
Usually, if the embouchure setting is good, you will not encounter
leaks of the magnitude you describe and you would be able to play
down lower than you say without much trouble. My first question would
always be, where are you setting your mouthpiece? Set the outside
edge of the mouthpiece just above the muscle line where your lip
meets the face. Do not go onto the facial skin below the lips with
your mouthpiece. Close your mouth to a normal position and let the
mouthpiece fall onto your lips without moving anything- especially,
do not open you mouth at all while you do this. Let the upper lip
just go into the mouthpiece as far as it will without moving it. This
is a good starting point. Make sure the lips are lined up by bringing
the jaw out a bit. Keep equal pressure on both lips against the teeth.
Keeping the corners together is important and maintaining a flat chin
in the lower register is just as important as doing it up high. Its
just a matter of degree of tension. Think of having a rubber band
suspended between your thumb and another finger. You can strum the
rubber band and create different pitches by moving your fingers apart
but if you lose the tension, the rubber band will not vibrate and
will fall off your fingers. This is the same as your lips. Let your
upper lip relax much more than your lower lip as you go lower. Think
rounder as you go lower. Don't let your lower lip float away from
your teeth or roll it out. Moving the jaw down a bit as you go lower
is also good.
As for the air, I would say that most of the people I have worked
with could use help with their breathing. Most people do not take in
enough air. In the lower register you have the need for a lot of air
flow without a lot of air pressure. This means that these low notes
will really suck the air right out of you. You need to learn to
supply the air without using more than you need to. Big breaths.
I don't have the time or space to continue this now but feel free to
go to my website below and click on the link for my book. That will
take you to a page where you can look at samples from the book. Click
on the embouchure one and check it out. Feel free to download and
print any of the excerpts. Also feel free to contact me privately if
you like. If you could send me a close-up picture of you playing a
low note, or any other notes, it would be helpful.
Sincerely,
Wendell Rider
For information about my book, Real World Horn Playing and the
summer seminar, go to my website: www.wendellworld.com
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