Has anyone had this embouchure problem before?

    
Has anyone had this embouchure problem before?    01:48 on Friday, August 13, 2010          

WTFortissimo
(1 point)
Posted by WTFortissimo

I'm 17 years old, I have played flugelhorn for about 5 years in an A grade brass band and a dub band.
My practise routine was an hour a day, June and July leading up to the National contest were intense months for me, I was playing probably for 3 hours a day, more on weekends. I also, in the brass band setting, had to play a LOT louder than I usually do, and definitely louder than what I could control.. my top lip "popped out" and felt like it was flapping around, and I guess I had to compensate with pressure in order to keep the playing up.
As a result the past month and a half my playing as been terrible (a crackly sound above an A in the space) , and my top lip is very sore, it feels swollen, and hot. I have been to a doctor, who has confirmed that there is not a torn or stretched muscle, or anything wrong with my nerves, which was a relief, but I don't know what to do about it now.
I talked to the most experienced players at myband, who said to just not play at all for a month, which is fine by my lip :[
I'm curious whether anyone else has had a "bruised lip" like this, if it healed by itself over time, or what else aided in the recovery.
Flugelhorn is my life, this next month without it will not be fun.. I'd really appreciate anyone's advice :]


Re: Has anyone had this embouchure problem before?    03:03 on Friday, August 13, 2010          

JOhnlovemusic
(1279 points)
Posted by JOhnlovemusic

You probably over stressed your lip muscles TRYING to play too loud; instead of relaxing to LET yourself play loud. Take one week off of playing. Then play in the range you can without the weird double buzzes or whatever else might happen. Play in the range you can play in well for one week. After one week of that add a 1/2 step in range in both directions. Add 1/2 step every three days you play. If you hear your tone lacking or it's not right don't play those notes. Back off to what you can play for another three days then try the next 1/2 step again.

I have seen this often enough.


Re: Has anyone had this embouchure problem before?    16:27 on Wednesday, August 25, 2010          

belltrumpetplaye
r19

It could be a problem with what's going inside your mouth. By you saying that your lips keep "popping out", it means that you don't have enough top lip and too much lower lip. It also looks like the top rim of the mouthpiece is on the "pink" of your top lip. That is an unhealthy embouchure. I would move your set position (when your lips are closed together) down half a millimeter. It may seem like too much upper lip at first, but over time you will get used to it and you would be playing better than how you were for the past 3 years. I too had an embouchure like that, and it made me tired only after 15-20 minutes of playing (besides my lips being horribly swollen). And with the "crackly sound", open your teeth more. By having your teeth closed, it's constricts your air stream, thus not providing enough air to create a full sound.

To help you even more, go here: http://www.trumpetthink.com/embouch.htm

With breathing, this is helpful as well: http://www.breathinggym.com/

Hope this helps!

belltrumpetplayer19


   




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