Thank you very much. This is a very helpful information to me. I am a French Horn player and having embouchure problem for a long time. I have difficulty playing high notes above high C range, and my lips easily get tired. Will follow the suggestions and do the experiment to see if I should change the mouth piece position. I think my major problem is uneven front teeth. Do you think if it is an important factor?
Great analysis of difficult and prevalent problem. My own situation which developed over the last few weeks continues to mystify me. My embouchure simply stopped vibrating during an Easter gig. Subsequently, I've come to the conclusion that it's muscle fatigue maybe due to strain, stress, or who knows what... Any suggestions?
Your advice can work well for some situations, not so well with others. Sometimes players will actually cause embouchure disfunction by over-practicing pedal tones, for example. Playing long tones wrong will also not help embouchure dysfunction. It's important to understand what the technique issue is that led to the injury in the first place. It's like lifting with your back, you can do it and get away with it until you hurt yourself. Overplaying itself isn't always what causes issues.
I'm a trumpet player, and I've been playing for a little over 7 years. I'm a music major in college, and I have noticed my playing becoming much stronger and more consistent. I still have issues in my upper register, though. The notes at the extreme limit of my upper range have a tremor, and it's hard to get the notes centered. I also have an awful tone in that range. I play with more lower lip in my mouthpiece. Any advise would be appreciated. :)
I'm a Trumpet Player that had a Stroke three years ago and when I had the Stroke I Fell on the top of my Lip and now wearing a bottom Denture and a Fixed Bridge and thinking about Plastic Surgery on the top part of the Lip what is your advice?
I play semi-pro valve trombone and have trouble playing a steady low note. It wobbles, though the mouth stays still. What's a good breathing exercise to be able to blow a steady stream of air? I've been working on it for years. Also my high register is weak.
Which player are you talking about? As far as which lip is forward, this is greatly dependent upon the player and the player's particular stage of development. If you take the time to look very closely at a large number of fine brass players you will see many different looking embouchures, so it's not universal to have both lips perfectly lined up as you suggest.
i`m a beginner trumpet player and i have a big lips and when i paying g a b c the air leaking to left side of my lips and i having a hard time play it well.. any advise to improve my playing? ...thx
While I am not a doctor, I believe "Stripped Lip" is (or a "Stripped Embouchure") is essentially pulled muscles of the lips and surrounding muscle system. Based on my experience, it comes from bad technique, over playing, and over straining to produce notes. When this happens, a player should stop playing for a few weeks, concentrate on improving his embouchure and technique (with less push and pull), and then slowly re-develop his lips with pedal tone slurs and long tones.
I'm a tenor trombone player and am not sure if I'm having an embrouchure problem. The notes A flat (in third position) and G (in fourth) above the staff almost always crack when I start them. All other high notes speak clearly. I've been trying to get a steady starting pitch by playing arpeggios and buzzing on the mouth piece. My friends think I'm having the problem because I have a smaller mouth piece (Yamaha 46 L). Do you have any suggestions?
It is also important to remember that playing a brass wind instrument (especially the trumpet) is not just about the embouchure. The body and mind are just as critical as the embouchure. Tremors can also simply be the result of not taking in enough air to begin with. A trumpet player should understand the mechanics of totally filling his lungs with air. A great trumpet player will be great at RAPID REFILL (or air). Consistent breaths help the Mind, Airflow, & Embouchure to become 1.
I never said in this video that air, tonguing, fingering, focus, etc. are unimportant to good brass playing, but you need to understand the parts before you can diagnose the whole. As far as trumpet being different, I think general brass technique is the same for all brass instruments and you will see the same embouchure patterns on all the instruments.
Having played trumpet for 13 years, I can say that I the tremors of the trombone player seem to be the result of one or a combination of "Bad Embouchure" and what I call "Stripped Embouchure." It appears that he is playing with his top lip forward of his bottom lip. That is a no no!. He appears to be using the pressure of the mouthpiece against his upper lip to push against his bottom lip and then achieve buzzing.
case study 1 isnnot embrochure dysfunction. it's looks far more like focal dystonia. many doctors say focal dystonia is a neurological disorder that is uncurable but recent research by doctor joaquin fabra suggests the problem is a psychological problem and is reversable. fabra suffered focal dystonia and cured himself so I would say case study one can be fixed from a non technical stand point
The reason I can tell you that it's a distonia is I am a professional trombone player and the exact same thing happened to me as in case study 1. I travelled extensively seeking professional help and was eventually told by a neurologist that I had focal dystonia. I had it for nearly 8 years and it almost destroyed my life. I have tried some of fabrta's methods and can tell you he's right.
Thanks, William. Two points: 1. That player was checked by a specialist, and it is not dystonia. 2. Even an expert would not diagnose dystonia by a short video clip. As I mentioned in the video, I am not a medical expert, nor is J. Fabra and I assume you aren't either. Non-professionals shouldn't be claiming to treat medical issues, so I won't go there.
Professional trombonist and doctor of music does not mean you're qualified to diagnose and treat a rare neurological condition. I've spoken to a number of medical professionals about dystonia (2 of whom are also musicians) and they all agreed that even specialists have difficulty diagnosing dystonia. It's not very well understood what is going on. Please take any medical advice a musician gives you with a grain of salt, everyone.
I'm sorry, but without being able to watch you play in person I can't offer you any advice. Probably the best thing you can do is to find a private teacher to take lessons with.
great videos! Thanks for putting these up
Thank you very much. This is a very helpful information to me. I am a French Horn player and having embouchure problem for a long time. I have difficulty playing high notes above high C range, and my lips easily get tired. Will follow the suggestions and do the experiment to see if I should change the mouth piece position. I think my major problem is uneven front teeth. Do you think if it is an important factor?
Great analysis of difficult and prevalent problem. My own situation which developed over the last few weeks continues to mystify me. My embouchure simply stopped vibrating during an Easter gig. Subsequently, I've come to the conclusion that it's muscle fatigue maybe due to strain, stress, or who knows what...
Any suggestions?
Your advice can work well for some situations, not so well with others. Sometimes players will actually cause embouchure disfunction by over-practicing pedal tones, for example. Playing long tones wrong will also not help embouchure dysfunction. It's important to understand what the technique issue is that led to the injury in the first place. It's like lifting with your back, you can do it and get away with it until you hurt yourself. Overplaying itself isn't always what causes issues.
I'm a trumpet player, and I've been playing for a little over 7 years. I'm a music major in college, and I have noticed my playing becoming much stronger and more consistent. I still have issues in my upper register, though. The notes at the extreme limit of my upper range have a tremor, and it's hard to get the notes centered. I also have an awful tone in that range. I play with more lower lip in my mouthpiece. Any advise would be appreciated. :)
Great video, real good stuff man
Do you know the name of the piece being played at 2:09?
Thank you in advance!
I'm a Trumpet Player that had a Stroke three years ago and when I had the Stroke I Fell on the top of my Lip and now wearing a bottom Denture and a Fixed Bridge and thinking about Plastic Surgery on the top part of the Lip what is your advice?
I play semi-pro valve trombone and have trouble playing a steady low note. It wobbles, though the mouth stays still. What's a good breathing exercise to be able to blow a steady stream of air? I've been working on it for years. Also my high register is weak.
Which player are you talking about?
As far as which lip is forward, this is greatly dependent upon the player and the player's particular stage of development. If you take the time to look very closely at a large number of fine brass players you will see many different looking embouchures, so it's not universal to have both lips perfectly lined up as you suggest.
i`m a beginner trumpet player and i have a big lips and when i paying g a b c the air leaking to left side of my lips and i having a hard time play it well.. any advise to improve my playing? ...thx
While I am not a doctor, I believe "Stripped Lip" is (or a "Stripped Embouchure") is essentially pulled muscles of the lips and surrounding muscle system. Based on my experience, it comes from bad technique, over playing, and over straining to produce notes. When this happens, a player should stop playing for a few weeks, concentrate on improving his embouchure and technique (with less push and pull), and then slowly re-develop his lips with pedal tone slurs and long tones.
I'm a tenor trombone player and am not sure if I'm having an embrouchure problem. The notes A flat (in third position) and G (in fourth) above the staff almost always crack when I start them. All other high notes speak clearly. I've been trying to get a steady starting pitch by playing arpeggios and buzzing on the mouth piece. My friends think I'm having the problem because I have a smaller mouth piece (Yamaha 46 L). Do you have any suggestions?
It is also important to remember that playing a brass wind instrument (especially the trumpet) is not just about the embouchure. The body and mind are just as critical as the embouchure. Tremors can also simply be the result of not taking in enough air to begin with. A trumpet player should understand the mechanics of totally filling his lungs with air. A great trumpet player will be great at RAPID REFILL (or air). Consistent breaths help the Mind, Airflow, & Embouchure to become 1.
@asakapala619 If you have larger lips, have you considered a low brass instrment? Euphonium or Tuba?
Thanks. I will. I hate watching that tuner needle go up and down on a held note.
@asakapala619 Try to strengthen up your corners with soft, airy free buzzing the highest pitch you can 3 times once a day.
I'd have to see you play to help. Each of the players in this video had different problems and different solutions.
@simonhowardleigh I'd have to watch you play to help. Can you take video?
I never said in this video that air, tonguing, fingering, focus, etc. are unimportant to good brass playing, but you need to understand the parts before you can diagnose the whole. As far as trumpet being different, I think general brass technique is the same for all brass instruments and you will see the same embouchure patterns on all the instruments.
Having played trumpet for 13 years, I can say that I the tremors of the trombone player seem to be the result of one or a combination of "Bad Embouchure" and what I call "Stripped Embouchure." It appears that he is playing with his top lip forward of his bottom lip. That is a no no!. He appears to be using the pressure of the mouthpiece against his upper lip to push against his bottom lip and then achieve buzzing.
case study 1 isnnot embrochure dysfunction. it's looks far more like focal dystonia. many doctors say focal dystonia is a neurological disorder that is uncurable but recent research by doctor joaquin fabra suggests the problem is a psychological problem and is reversable. fabra suffered focal dystonia and cured himself so I would say case study one can be fixed from a non technical stand point
The reason I can tell you that it's a distonia is I am a professional trombone player and the exact same thing happened to me as in case study 1. I travelled extensively seeking professional help and was eventually told by a neurologist that I had focal dystonia. I had it for nearly 8 years and it almost destroyed my life. I have tried some of fabrta's methods and can tell you he's right.
I look for on youtube nobody has dystonia on tongue.
Thanks, William. Two points:
1. That player was checked by a specialist, and it is not dystonia.
2. Even an expert would not diagnose dystonia by a short video clip. As I mentioned in the video, I am not a medical expert, nor is J. Fabra and I assume you aren't either. Non-professionals shouldn't be claiming to treat medical issues, so I won't go there.
Professional trombonist and doctor of music does not mean you're qualified to diagnose and treat a rare neurological condition. I've spoken to a number of medical professionals about dystonia (2 of whom are also musicians) and they all agreed that even specialists have difficulty diagnosing dystonia. It's not very well understood what is going on.
Please take any medical advice a musician gives you with a grain of salt, everyone.
I'm sorry, but without being able to watch you play in person I can't offer you any advice. Probably the best thing you can do is to find a private teacher to take lessons with.