Don't Stress or Obsess! | "E for Embouchure" | Trumpet A-Z, S01E05

For Brass players, our embouchure is something we all tend to obsess about to some degree. In this video, "E for Embouchure", Bryan Davis explains his tips for how an embouchure should be set up, and shares a couple of exercises to help strengthen your embouchure in the right way, so it is free to respond to the airstream.
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[@CornetBlues]

Going straight to my practice room to try out this bending of the notes exercise Wish me luck Every day is a school day for me even at 64🎺🎺I never stop trying to improve,it’s an Obsession 😜😜🎺🕺🎺🎶🎶

[@jbgood37]

To start with found it very difficult to get down to the lower note . Found a bit of a cheat that has helped to get the feel and get it working. fingered down to the lower note and concentrated on holding whilst letting the valves move back to the higher note can now do it the proper way but still need some more work. Thanks for all the great ideas tips and exercises.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

If doing reverse bends, the common name for your workaround, helps then that’s great. You can also try whistling the bend first - your tongue moves the same way when you play it. Thanks for watching!

[@laserjim]

I was just doing some bends from the John Daniel book before I watched this. They really do help.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

I was lucky to be introduced to bends many years ago. They are so great for the chops!

[@BryanDavisMusic]

If you have any questions or feedback about this video, I’m all ears! If you find this or any of my videos helpful, please share with your friends.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Whoops - wrong account! Either way, please comment...

[@benjaminpiela5210]

Is there a way to maintain a more consistent tone while changing registers of the instrument? I find that when I play higher, I often get a squeaky - or overly-bright - sound. If it were possible, my goal would be to sound warm and smooth in the middle and low register and still have a full (or 'phat') sound in the extreme upper register. I appreciate the helpful videos!

[@ramonfw]

Thank, you, Bryan, your content is really helpful

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

You’re welcome. I’m glad to hear it.

[@jessicalane5689]

Hi, what can I do to help stop my bottom lip sliding under my top lip when playing high notes? Thank you

[@captainmj-on-trumpet]

Great explanation, i will try it out, just started playing a week ago. Thanks!

[@seifenstander508]

so we started kind of the same time. how is it going? what can you play so far?

[@Jon-kx3ut]

seifen ständer I’m 2 hours in and can play C and G

[@CanadianDivergent]

i'm a super obsesser. Im at the point that I have forgotten or overanalyzed so much i have 10 different ways to play and none of them gets me past a high Bb. im about ready to throw in the towel again.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

I’m sorry you’re lost in the weeds. Sometimes a second pair of eyes on what you’re doing can be helpful…

[@pebblebeach8517]

That Is the coolest looking trumpet may I ask what model? Thx you 🎺

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

That’s a Schagerl “James Morrison”

[@philwong2268]

Good series!

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Thanks!

[@badatfortnite3641]

Thanks very help full!

[@violinjose]

Hello, Can you please explain when you say that the mouthpiece rim should seat Outside of the red flesh of the lips and not to pinch the lips. Many Thanks.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Look out for a video on the subject early next week. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@paulgrimm6850]

Invest is a good mouthpiece! You don’t want to fight your instrument !

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Any mouthpiece is “good” providing it’s an appropriate size for you and is basically undamaged. That still doesn’t change the crux of this video.

[@jamesmcg_]

Hi, I'm about to be a college student and my range isn't much over a concert c. Ive been looking at my embochure and it looks like im a little to the right of my face, and my upper lip on the left side comes over my bottom. Would this affect anything? Also my right side is sealed while my left sometimes releases a small amount of air.

[@bjazzp]

Hey Bryan. Good stuff. Which of videos addresses endurance? I can play high, but lack endurance to play 1st for a whole concert. What would you suggest? Thanks in advance.

[@bruceroberts8208]

Do you bend the pitch up a semitone as well as down?

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

I don't generally - I'm still developing my bending to the point where that would be possible for me. The Reverse Bends are a bit of a misnomer - it's really about maintaining the same pitch while fingering a higher note.

[@markanthonymamagat2298]

Hi Bryan... What is the movement of your lips as you go higher?as i observe some players as they go higher their lips move forward... Thank you...

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

I don’t really know. They move where they move. I’m much more focused on how my air is moving, and the lips respond to the air. If I stay efficient with my air use, then the noticeable movement in my embouchure is minimized. If not, then you start to see some moving parts.

[@markanthonymamagat2298]

@@AirflowMusicNYC thanks so much Bryan for taking time to answer my question... Keep the videos coming... God bless you...

[@BrianHayesSax]

Great discussion and demonstration. I note you have one of the original release versions of the Sandovalves in your bookshelf. Do you recommend practicing with that device regularly as an alternate means of building embouchure strength and finger coordination without the horn?

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Hi Brian. Thanks for watching. My Sandovalves is basically used for set dressing, these days. I use it occasionally to work on fingering patterns, as the audible click of the valves can be very useful, but I’ve never found a setting where I like how it feels to mouthpiece buzz on it.

[@BrianHayesSax]

@@AirflowMusicNYC Hi Bryan, I have the original plastic version Sandovalves like you, but also the newly redesigned metal version. The new version forces a more focused buzz, where the plastic one is quite a free blowing spread feeling buzz to me. As a quirky comment, I find if I practice for 5 minutes playing a pedal D major scale on the new metal Sandovalves, in one octave only (the low pedal octave) then play a 2 octave C scale on the Bb trumpet I get the best sounding most effortless trumpet tone up to that high C of any practice method I have worked on. For me, the metal Sandovalves seems to really focus my buzzing, and as long as I stay in the pedal range, a tone above what I want to play on the horn, a minor miracle occurs when I go back to the trumpet. Just sharing that for anyone who might be frustrated with getting an effortless feel to their playing at present. The metal Sandovalves is expensive, but for me, a good investment, certainly a major step up from their initial plastic design. I think it comes down to how we all are different and what buzz feel (if any) suits the individual. Great channel - fantastic videos and knowledge being shared.

[@881buddha]

Hi Bryan, I’m 63 and I’ve started playing the cornet again after not having played for over 20 years. I’ve bought a pcornet to play and I’m struggling to hold G and above over middle C. Is it me, the plastic instrument, or both? Thanks Steve.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Thanks for commenting, Steve. I also saw your email and replied to you there.

[@torinperreyclear1377]

is your intro a descending hole tone scale followed by a lydian Maj7th chord with no 3rd and both natural and flat 5ths?

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

It starts with the descending Wholetone scale pyramid, for sure. The ending chord is best described as a D/C polychord, I guess - it's a stack of 5ths from low C up to E over high C, with an F# in the middle and a double high C on top! I'd post an image of the score, but that doesn't seem to be possible in YT comments.

[@torinperreyclear1377]

@@AirflowMusicNYC very resonant and a good balance between noted

[@qas2762]

How does one stop playing in the red of the lips?

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

By altering the placement of the mouthpiece. If you don’t know where to start with that, that’s a good time to consult with an experienced teacher. That could be me or somebody in your local area.

[@mgoksoy]

Downloadable PDF's are not downloadable Bryan.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Yes, they are. They are processed as free purchases through the store. Add to cart, checkout and receive your download link.

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Strictly, in the case of the exercise that accompanied this video, you go to the page and fill the form to get your download link. Same general idea, though....

[@tatertotjoe5109]

I have a hard time just buzzing my lips

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Take a look at my video “L for Lip Buzzing” at kzbin.info/www/bejne/opqsaoKugbZ4mbs - that will show you the proper way to approach it. Thanks for watching.

[@squiddyjamzzz]

Is it me or do trumpet players all seem to have very red lips

[@AirflowMusicNYC]

Plenty of blood flowing to them, by the nature of the activity!