A Beginners Guide To Embouchure Changes On The Trumpet

[@neekoo8551]

This video was so helpful!!! I have the same embouchure problem… my mouthpiece rests very low on my face and this has been a habit since I was in 7th grade. Lately I’ve been trying to work a center embouchure into my practice sessions, and it is *so* tiring. Having the weird embouchure made a normal one hurt very badly.. It was also very discouraging when playing with a center embouchure because my tone would go down back to being where I first started. It’s so frustrating but after watching through this video I’m going to try and move the embouchure if it’s going to help me in the future. Moving my embouchure was something I was questioning wether or not I should do and it was sort of comforting to see someone else who had the same embouchure habit as me!

[@johncopella3741]

I remember hearing Matt perform when he played flugel with the Fountain City Brass Band. Absolutely superb player and he's obviously a gifted teacher, too. Thanks to you, too, Ryan, for all of the tremendous content you've produced over the years. It's so, so valuable -- I almost can't believe we live in an age where so much wisdom is so readily available. I hope students everywhere are taking advantage of these resources and getting inspired to "throw a whole bunch of hours at it" as Scott Belck says :). Thanks again Ryan & Matt!

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

Thanks so much for this comment! Matt is the best. I get a lot out of these interviews, I’m glad you and others do too!

[@miffy9871]

The emotional support, and setting clear as well as achievable goals is so important.

[@curtelverd4008]

I went through the same exact issues as Matt during undergrad! And his timeline is spot on. It took a 3 months or so to get to G at the top of the staff and a solid year to be able to extend my range beyond C above the staff. I'm so thankful today that I made that change back then! It took my sound and especially endurance to an all new high!

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

It’s so cool to hear your story! I’m glad you came through the change well and are feeling good!

[@CornetBlues]

It’s all about the “sweet spot”efficiency for me 😊lots of trial and error Low Long notes will help you find it 👍🎺🎶🎺great advice here👍🎶🎺🎶

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

Thanks for watching! Lots of trial and error is right :)

[@madesteve1]

Great video. May I add a suggestion guys.... Get a vanity mirror and and clean ring spanner of the same internal diameter of the internal diameter of your mouthpiece rim. Not only can you see that your lip position is in check but also you can see your aperture opening throughout the range plus going from loud to quiet back to loud. A lot cheaper than a visualiser

[@mattvangjel3254]

That’s a great suggestion! I hadn’t even thought about that because I had to purchase visualizers when I was going through my own changes. This is an awesome, budget-friendly suggestion. Thank you!

[@freeLM90]

Great video! Many years ago Donald Reinhardt wrote lot of stuff about embouchure classification and how you should practice with your type of embouchure. I fixed my embouchure problems after moving around from a system to another during my career. Reinhardt's ideas opened my mind and made me a better teacher.

[@cliffordgagliardo4324]

Yes, I would be curious to see a classical musician and a university teacher talk about how our unique physical characteristics determine our approach to playing. My big gripe with the university teacher I had was unhelpful admonitions to just “use more air” and other vague instructions unworthy of university level teaching. It would be nice if any teacher at the university level could explain embouchure in a way that a violinist explains the technique of bowing, which I’m pretty sure isn’t just “use more bow!”

[@freeLM90]

@@cliffordgagliardo4324 I had the same problem and my professor was a famous first chair here in Italy when I was a student. The "more air" approach made me overblowing all the time and playing a concert became harder then a marathon... The funny thing is that I learned all the technique from people outside the conservatory world...

[@thanos6346]

Thank you. I have a low embochure and have wanted to change it for a while, but due to the busy schedule of my band haven’t had enough time to comfortably do so. After I graduate and carry on trumpeting as a hobby I will have to work on this, as I am currently struggling with the limits put upon my playing by my maladaptive embochure.

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I'm glad you found this video helpful for your trumpet journey!

[@mattvangjel3254]

This is a really tough situation for people with playing obligations. I usually say to go for it in the summers when you’re less busy. Let me know if you want help when you do have time to commit to the change.

[@elikeatsu5150]

super helpful vid! thanks so much!!

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

My pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@RedDragon313]

I'm here to say that you shouldn't worry about what your embouchure "looks like" but rather what it "sounds like". If you have great tone, range, and endurance then don't change a thing.

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I would agree. I don’t think most people thinking about embouchure changes are those who have no issues with those things though. Sometimes changing the embouchure is the right thing to do for players who do have range, sound, and other challenges on the trumpet.

[@mattvangjel3254]

Absolutely! I have never once changed an embouchure when all of those things were great. There’s almost always an issue with one of those things and/or physical pain (beyond sore muscles). It also depends on what you’re planning to do with the trumpet. There are a ton of factors to consider!

[@bruceroberts8208]

I go along with the Vacchiano method that the correct mouthpiece with the rim and cup that fits them is my solution to the change of 'embouchure'.

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I haven’t heard this approach from Vacchiano before!

[@bruceroberts8208]

@@RyanBeachtrumpet Vacchiano said "If you have a problem with your feet you change your shoes.. If you have a problem with your eyes you get different glasses. Why should the lips be any different?" Louis Ranger explained "He would use mouthpieces in a therapeutic manner".

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

I do!

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

I have a KZbin channel as well sir. Should you take a listen? You'll see and hear what is going on. I've recorded everything on my android phone 📱. So it's not the best of quality and It's all unedited.

[@danieldancer4065]

much needed video. Been going through this

[@crabtreyanimations7148]

As a self taught bugle player these videos are amazing but my brother has these kinds of issues on his euphonium/baritone but won’t watch a video on it because he claims that they are for trumpets and he doesn’t believe that it’s the same thing.

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I suppose I can understand that kind of thinking. Hopefully he’ll give it a chance someday. I’m glad you’re finding the videos helpful!

[@trumpettradesman]

The bottom right is the shizzle

[@Sebby-o]

I just got my braces off and my tone feels isn’t as vibrant or brilliant should I maybe change or just build tone back up?

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I think it will take time to build back up, it’s way different when your braces come off

[@Sebby-o]

@@RyanBeachtrumpet thanks you

[@thebigfish6282]

Is it fine that I play with mouthpiece slightly to the left horizontally or no cuz that’s how I learned and my teeth are shaped weird so I just do that should I change?

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

My understanding is your situation should be fine. You can’t do much about the shape of your teeth. Do you feel like it’s not a good setup for you?

[@thebigfish6282]

@@RyanBeachtrumpet Ive have been playing fine with it since I've started about 3 years ago I'm freshmen in high school the main issue I have is endurance in upper register especially in pieces without much rests but that's just something I need to practice for.

[@mattvangjel3254]

Left to right doesn’t matter that much, especially if your teeth require an off-center position. Just make sure you are supporting on both sides of your face and not just one side. Try the back of the mouthpiece exercise where you have your mouthpiece centered and see if you are engaging the muscles all around your embouchure. Feel free to reach out to me with questions or if you want to send me some playing examples. I am happy to help!

[@firedemon5467]

Should I be changing my embouchure if I play with a big frown?

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

Hard to say without hearing/seeing you. Thanks a question that best for a teacher I think.

[@EmeliaSagoe-ei7bz]

Please how can I get a good tone

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

It’s hard to give advice without knowing anything about you. Listen to great players, try to emulate them. Find a knowledgeable teacher to learn from. Those things are a good start.

[@joelkrebs3577]

Me watching this video as a beginner ..😂 I still have to learn how to do a sound, sometimes I can the next time not..😆

[@DedekindMusic]

Spot on the right place for the lips

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

I almost quit. Am still having challenges 😔

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I hope this video helps give you some helpful information!

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

@@RyanBeachtrumpet Sir. I used to play upstream with a reverse pivot. I didn't go through the change until after I graduated with my master's degree. I got on the sublist for the Indianapolis Symphony and even played two services with them while I was playing upstream. The mouthpiece was also a little low too beneath the red. I also have an overbite. Although I'm confused why I got to play with a major orchestra before the embouchure change?

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

I haven't had a gig in months, am unemployed, back with mom and dad 😞. It has been quite rough. I've still tried to keep up with my trumpet 🎺 playing. Yet it just feels like a waste. I went through embouchure work about five years ago.

[@JoeJoe-rt1fk]

You don't want to be me sir. If I had students I personally would not 🚫 do that something like that with them. Many of them end up reverting back to their old embouchure. I had the same issue and it almost cost me getting canned from a holiday pops concert six months into the adjustment. No joke 😞 as this is not 🚫 your typical sob story sir.

[@RustyKloud]

@@JoeJoe-rt1fkif you were working professionally, I wouldn’t have gone through a change like that. In my opinion, embouchure changes are not worth it if you’re playing well enough with a ”bad“ embouchure. My guess is that you had some bad habits that they thought an embouchure change could correct. While that can work, it requires a heightened awareness of the habits you’re carrying into a change such as yours. I‘m sorry to hear that you’re going through rough times but there is definitely still time

[@antosavo3558]

so many words for...what?!

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

Is there something I can help clear up? The goal of the video is to break down embouchure changes so anyone who wants quality info can have it.