Embouchure Explanation-What It Is!!!

Embouchure Epiphany

embouchure |ˌämboōˈ sh oŏr|

noun

1 Music the way in which a player applies the mouth to the mouthpiece of a brass or wind instrument.

• the mouthpiece of a flute or a similar instrument.

2 archaic the mouth of a river or valley.

ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: French, from s'emboucher ‘discharge itself by the mouth,’ from emboucher ‘put in or to the mouth,’ from em- ‘into’ + bouche ‘mouth.’

The above American Heritage definition describes embochure as ‘mouth of a river’; in the music sense, it’s the opening for the player’s ‘river of air’.  Nowhere in the definition is there mention of pressure applied with the embouchure.

In theory, a player should be able to turn the mouthpiece 360 degrees, while sustaining a held tone/note; support should be equal all around the orbicularis (smile) muscle.

Shape the embouchure by saying the French syllable ‘ouh’.  When you pronounce ‘ouh’, the contraction can be felt in the corners of the mouth’, where the support of the clarinet, saxophone, and oboe reed and MP should occur.  The teeth and jaw should not exert pressure; a vibrant tone results from the reed surface vibrating to its maximum, and top down pressure defeats this goal. 

Start the average tone with teeth resting lightly on the MP top and the lower lip resting over the lower teeth.  If you suffer a sore lower lip, or must wear a lip protector over you lower teeth, you are deadening your sound.  Start the sound with the MP floating (teeth off top and lower jaw dropped) for the most vibrant, popping sffz attack possible.

The fastest tongue speed is achieved with the lightest of pressure; I will explain double tonguing on a future blog, and how it’s not possible to do with top down pressure.

Now, say ‘ouh’ and internalize the feel of your orbicularis.

Please lease a comment on my blog.

Sincerely,

Errol Weiss Schlabach