Page 27 - Embou-Sure Book Series

ESSENTIALS OF THE HORN EMBOUCHURE
1. Setting of the mouthpiece rim above the lip-line on upper lip, there- by making effective use of the underlying muscle.
2. A downward, rather then horizontal, angle to the leadpipe, thereby allowing free vibration of the upper lip.
3. A flexible lower jaw, thereby establishing the basis for ease register shifts and oral cavity adjustment.
#1-CORRECT RESULT More often than not, a reasonable tone will be produced if you have carefully introduced the embouchure formation.
SOUND EXAMPLE #1
#2-NO TONE, RUSHING AIR In this instance there are four possible
causes:
a. Lips not together (spread aperture).
b. Too much pucker in the lips (“oo” shape). c. Dry lips, dry mouthpiece.
d. Insufficient air to make lips vibrate.
SOUND EXAMPLE #2
REMEDY: Re-form and maintain the EM lip formation to eliminate pos- sibility of spread aperture and too much pucker. Dry lips and mouthpiece can be eliminated by having the student lick his lips and the inside of the mouth- piece. To eliminate insufficient air, review breathing exercises.
#3-AIRY TONE This is one step above #2; the tone is now evident as actual pitch but the same basic problems exist. In this case how ever, it is less likely that dry lips or insufficient air will be responsible for the sound. More often the causes will be:
a. Lips not together (spread aperture).
b. Too much pucker in the lips (“oo” shape).
SOUND EXAMPLE #3
REMEDY: Re-form EM and watch carefully for severe change of lip posi- tion when student starts to play.
#4-TIGHT, THIN TONE Pinched tone quality is invariably produced as a result of tenseness. In addition to more localized tension the entire body often plays a significant role in this area. Specifically speaking, the three common causes are:
a. Tense, excessively pursed lip formation. b. Too much pucker in the lips (hard “oo). c. Tight, closed throat.
SOUND EXAMPLE #4
REMEDY: Work with the student to be sure he is relaxed and then return to re-formation of EM but with less exaggeration so that the lips do not bite, pinch, pucker, or excessively purse together.
#5-COMPLETELY STOPPED This possibility is a severe exaggeration of #4. No tone of any kind occurs due to:
a. Tense, excessively pursed lip formation. b. Mouthpiece pressure toward lips.
c. Closed throat.
SOUND EXAMPLE #5
REMEDY: Review breathing procedures for closed throat Also review EM formation and emphasize less exaggeration of that formation. Watch for ex- cessive mouthpiece pressure.
Embou-Sure – 30