Page 1 of 1

Playing using the sides of your lip?

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:06 pm
by Flying bird
Just curious, is it "easier" to play by turning your head and using the sides of your lips to play? Is it even proper to play like that? I ask this because I saw a video of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony and the trumpets were playing to the side...

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:03 am
by Brad
This could take hours. The very abridged version is; Though the best method says to center the mouthpiece on the lips, some find that playing slightly of to the side is more comfortable. Bruce Pearson (Standards of Excellence) says students should experiment to find the most comfortable position, as well as the position that produces the best tone.

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:04 am
by supermutant
Over the years, I have seen numerous players, especially from the European area play off center. Basically, if it works, don't fix it. Conventional wisdom says, center the embouchure. Somebody once told Dizzy Gillespie that he had to control his cheeks to play well....... :shock:

Re: Playing using the sides of your lip?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:55 pm
by vore
Flying bird wrote:I saw a video of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony and the trumpets were playing to the side...
Perhaps due to the poor dental plans in Russia, the only teeth that had left were their molars! Their front teeth might be all gone. :lol:

vore 8-)

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:30 pm
by Brad
:hum: :rotf:

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:21 pm
by bassoonuba
I've got a friend that plays tuba out of the side of her mouth. It is really weird to watch.

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:08 pm
by FluteOfTheNewWorld
I love the 4th symphony!!!

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:12 pm
by Flying bird
FluteOfTheNewWorld wrote:I love the 4th symphony!!!
I can't get enough of it! haha

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:23 pm
by FluteOfTheNewWorld
All 4 movements are simply amazing... especially the finale at the very end when the entire orchestra plays that F like 12 times in a row... soo awsome!!!