Your first question might be, “What is a balanced embouchure”?
A balanced embouchure is the facial set of muscles which are used to produce acceptable musical tones when required.
How many times have you heard this “I’ve been practicing for a long time now and I have strong chops and my endurance is great, but my high notes are coming down, my flexibility is getting worse, and my tone sounds forced”!
And the flip side of that comment sounds like this “My high range is incredible; my flexibility is wonderful, and my tone sounds rich and centered but my endurance is nonexistent”!
Both of these conditions are good examples of an unbalanced embouchure.
The human body is designed with apposing sets of muscles. Apposing muscles make it possible for you to extend your arm forward and bring it back; depress your first valve and let it up. The word apposing does not mean that they work against each other; it means they work with and complement each to get us through life.
Body builders are extremely aware of this teamwork of apposing muscle sets and work to strength as well as increase flexibility in each set. The embouchure is a combination of several sets of apposing muscles and to be an accomplished performer, we need to be aware of this balance, otherwise we will gain in one area and fail in another.
Consider the following as a suggestion for a more balanced approach to embouchure development.
Two Extremes of Embouchure Development
The Manly Side (high, loud and ugly)
Double High C in 37 Weeks- by Roger Spaulding
The Musical Side (mid-range, very musical)
Trumpet Flow Studies by Vince Cichowicz
Both of these books work to improve one’s ability to play a Trumpet but each approach it in a different manner. The Double High C encourages the player to increase his/her upper register and finger technique. The Flow Studies book concentrates on good sound, flexibility and musicality. Both are wonderful collections but when practiced individually, a totally balanced embouchure would not be possible. If both are practiced, the result would be more beneficial to the practitioner.
This is also true for valve development. Clarke’s Technical Studies concentrates on learning keys and improving your finger coordination. Trying to keep up on all these methods is not easy and very time consuming so touching on each for short periods of time seems to be the only solution.
Increased practicing will generally increase endurance but will also contribute to “stiff chops”. For that reason, adding flexibility exercises to your routine will solve this dilemma. Not practicing will improve your tone because of the more relaxed lip muscles but when faced with actually playing gigs, you will most often come up short in the endurance area. As the old song goes, “You can’t have one without the other”.
The solution is obvious, you need to address all areas in your daily routine.
“Please take a moment to visit our sister site”-
Trumpet Ensemble Music for all your Trumpet and Brass instrument arrangement/transcription needs.
We have added more than thirty-six new arrangements/transcriptions in the past thirty days. You’ll find everything from “Bach to Rock”.
Our prices are way below those of Big Publishing Companies, ranging from $2.50 up to $12.50 depending on instrumentation and length.
Check it out and enjoy great charts at very reasonable prices.
Sample- “Birdland” (Trumpet Quartet) – Trumpet Ensemble Music
