Hello,

I've been playing the trumpet for a month with a private teacher and it was cool. I practiced every day and once a week he got his guitar and we played together (me playing very weak of course).

Now, I haven't played for 6 months and I want to start again. My teacher didn't really teach me about embouchure, he just said that whatever works for me is fine.

I am trying to follow some books and not get another teacher. When I look at myself in the mirror, whenever I try to "buzz" (close my lips, pull them back and let the air come out of the center) I cannot do it.
My bottom lip always pushes forward and slips out... How do I control it?
It is like I have fat lips or something...
My teacher used to do it perfectly.
I don't think it's a thing that can be taught I think you have to adjust it yourself.

Any advice on how??

Ok...you can do it! First of all, I don't think you have to "pull your lips back." Instead, think of tightening the corners of your mouth when you think of buzzing. Then just try it with the trumpet...eventually you will get a sound. Was your teacher a trumpet teacher..? Why was he playing guitar? With the way he describes the embouchure, I'm not sure he's a good teacher. Anyways, best of luck.

That teacher was a trumpet teacher, of course. I think I'll find a new one soon...
Any way you can show / send me pics of your embouchure ?

How many times a week to you practice ?

haha..I don't know what sending pictures of my embouchure are going to do. Sorry can't help you there. But I practice everyday, as does every serious trumpeter. I think it was Louis Armstrong who said, "If I miss one day of practice, I know it. If I miss two days of practice, my band knows it. And if I miss three days of practice, the world knows it." Basically a daily regular practice schedule is essential for growing and continuing trumpet players.

You just need to get a better teacher. Trumpet isnt something you learn by reading books. Its possible but very hard to do, especially for a beginner. Its also almost impossible to teach instruments over the internet too. I know, I've tried.

I'm an old dog, so I learned about my embouchure before I ever blew a note.

Try to picture the business end of a balloon (where the air goes in). If you stretch the "lips", you can change the pitch of the sound of the air escaping. Same kind of idea, except you don't want to pinch your lips. It is more of a smile with the corners of your mouth tightening and loosening.

There are several exercises designed to strengthen your embouchure, but one of the best is to try to play one of your favorite tunes on just the mouthpiece. This willteach you not only how to "get a good buzz", but it will also train you in "lipping" into tune.

Some people don't approve of that, but I've sat in with Maynard Ferguson, Don Ellis, Bill Chase and Clark Terry - they all lip-tune.

Hope this helps.