Embouchure Problem?

[gdthetubaman1291]

Hello there everyone!



Recently marching band has started up for my high school again and I've been playing sousaphone a lot more than my own CC horn. Since then I think I've started to develop problems with my embouchure.
It feels like I'm using the left side of my facial muscles a lot more. Also, there are times when air will get trapped in my right cheek and sometimes air escapes out of the right side of my mouth. My upper register doesn't seem as even ever since I've noticed these things as well.

Could this be related to the angle that my mouthpiece meets my lips while playing sousaphone?
Also, The CC horn I use is a miraphone 1292, which has a euro shank receiver. So I'm forced to use a different mouthpiece on sousaphone with specifications that aren't very close to what I use on my CC horn. This seems like it could be the most likely thing that's causing the issues. I just thought I'd see what everyone here thinks before I go and order a replica of the mouthpiece with a standard shank.


thanks in advance for the help!

[Dan Schultz]

The first question I have to ask is... "has your playing style changed for marching band?"

I usually equate marching band style as "quantity"... meaning the focus for marching bands seems to be more along the lines of loud instead of quality.

[windshieldbug]

I will echo Dan's question, with the add on, why are you sure it's the mouthpiece?

Before you go to the trouble of ordering a replica with the US shank, it sounds like there are way to many other variables which may be affecting this along with playing style, angle of address, horn bore/response, etc. etc. etc.

One way to quickly decide if your first assumption is correct is to use the sousaphone mouthpiece wrapped in paper on your Miraphone. Do you have the same issues? Then try the reverse as best you can. Is it the mouthpiece or something else?

Narrowing this down will help in not only defining the problem, but finding a solution!

[Bob Kolada]

I use a euro PT48 fairly regularly in a 185 (I think that's what it is!), a 187, and a 20K.

Not going in as far=no biggie.

[gdthetubaman1291]

To answer the first question: Yes, it has. Being heard can be a problem with a band of close to 200 and a sousaphone section of 5. So i find myself playing mostly everything at forte or greater. I don't think there's much in our music that goes below that either.

And I've found a way to adjust my gooseneck and tuning bits so that my mouthpiece meets my lips at the correct angle. However, my problem still seems to be persisting.
I haven't had a marching band rehearsal for a while now so I've been on my CC for the last week or so. The problem is still there so I'm starting to think that it may not be related to the sousaphone playing.

Does anyone have any idea as to what could be wrong? Or as to how I could go about fixing this?

[Roger Lewis]

Don't ask here. Until someone, preferably a very good teacher, can SEE what is going on, an answer here would be just a shot in the dark. Get to a good teacher and go from there.

Just my $0.02.

Roger

[djwesp]

Garrett,

Go find someone to check out your embouchure. There are some very good "embouchure gurus" especially in the eastern seaboard. Dave Williken and Doug Elliot do look at the board sometimes, try to contact them. They literally are the best of the best and could arrange meetings if you are closer or video examination if you are at a distance.

Reading over some of your past posts, it seems that you probably have some real issues that can not be dealt with blindly on a forum. Air bumps, air pockets, air stream direction, etc.

Listen to Roger. Go find help.

[tubashaman2]

.

[pierso20]

I don't think this is at all a mouthpiece issue. You are playing louder and as such are doing different embouchure things to achieve this. One things that happens is cheeks can puff (one of my students is doing this right now and I am harping on him to stop). The other thing is that you are playing outside, which also tends to increase our volume. Without any natural reverberation, we play louder to compensate.

For a few rehearsals, play the 20K just like your CC horn. Don't force anything. If the problem goes away, then you know the issue.

BP