Horn Hacks ep. 6: Embouchure and Mouthpiece Placement

Horn Hacks ep. 6: Embouchure and Mouthpiece Placement
Hello, and welcome to “Horn Hacks”. My name is Jena Gardner and I am the horn professor at Western Illinois University. In this video, I am going to discuss some basic guidelines for a good embouchure and mouthpiece placement. These are especially important fundamentals for beginners and more advanced players who are struggling to make a good sound.
The first step is to bring your lips into the correct position by saying “Eww”.
Notice how two corners of the lips come forward, and the chin flexes downward.
“eww”
These three points create structural support for the horn embouchure and should be maintained throughout the middle, high and low registers.
Next, place the mouthpiece with a ratio of 2/3rds upper lip and 1/3rd lower lip, as close to the center as possible. It is okay if your mouthpiece is a little to the left or right, this usually happens naturally because of the shape of our front teeth.
It is very important that you maintain the 2/3rds upper lip and 1/3 lower lip because of the downward angle of the mouthpiece and lead pipe. Many students who switch from trumpet need to pay extra special attention to this placement.
If you’ve already been playing for a while and are struggling with your embouchure, please reach out to me at [e-mail] before making any major changes!
Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to the WIU Horn Studio KZbin channel and like our Facebook page ( / wiuhorn ) for more videos in this series!
For more information on the Western Illinois University, Horn Studio visit www.wiu.edu/horn
#HornHacks #WIUHorn #WIUSchoolofMusic #WIUOnline

[@rebeccadubey6178]

Thank you for such an excellent illustration for forming the embouchure! I am largely self-taught, picking the horn up later in life, and nobody could explain this to me! Most helpful video I have seen about playing the French Horn!

[@MrJcasilva]

Tks! although it is a short video, this gave me a basic point of view as I am smashing my lips to get a better sound in my horn; greetings from BR!

[@WIUHornStudio]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@luciocortiglia2724]

Thanks!!

[@amykrueger9440]

I don't know how I missed the "eew" concept, but that will certainly be my new way of introducing it!

[@JenaGardner]

Hi Amy! I'm so glad you like this. It is a modified version of what Gail Williams teaches, "Pooh". I think the lips end up in the same place and its less giggle inducing for young players. :-)

[@breeze7619]

My lips are uneven and I feel like it is due to my mouthpiece placement. I have been playing for 4 years and I am a good horn player. I know you said it’s ok if the placement is a little to the left or right, but I feel like my placement is too much tot he left, causing my lips to be asymmetrical/shifted. Could this be because of my mouthpiece placement?

[@leonpeters8185]

I have a question. My lower lip keeps sliding from within the mouthpiece to the lower edge of the mouthpiece. When this happens, should I let it stay there? Also, how do you prevend this from happening?

[@tbrevink8319]

Wauw I should email you. Playing horn for 17 years now finding out my embouchure is all wrong. I place my jaw far to the front...😢

[@tristan.j0in3r57]

im doing a major change bc im going from sax to horn-

[@lunaremotions9974]

Me too 😵‍💫

[@dianawolf894]

Center it