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Hello everyone. I have a quick technical question. I have a student who when he plays, he has air leaking out the right side of his mouth. The sound is really good, no double buzz or anything, but I'm wondering if this will cause problems in the future. The one time I mentioned it and we tried working on it....the sound really turned sour. There are a few other things I can try....but I've be hesitant since he sounds pretty darn good already.

Any advice on what I should do, if anything? If you had this in your playing at one point, what did you do about it? Thanks!

-Tim

Just a thought--have you tried mouthpieces with wider (or narrower) cups? Sometimes a too-small mouthpiece will produce air leaks.

Well, maybe I should ask a question about the problem I have sometimes. From time to time I have a problem with air leaking out through my nose. I always try to play with an open throat and every now and then I can feel small amounts of air escaping through my nostrals. Am I doing something wrong or could it be a physical glitch?

yup

When I first started playing I had this problem, but then overtime my embauchure ( i know i spelled it wrong) got better and corrected the problem. The only time it happens now is if I sue an unfamiliar mouthpiece. I would wait a little longer and if it doesn't solve itself....try another mouthpiece.

mTaUrBkA wrote:The only time it happens now is if I sue an unfamiliar mouthpiece.

Just when I thought lawyers could stoop no lower.

I used to have that problem. The way my teeth grew, I should have been a piano player. One solution, recommended to Don Butterfield by Bill Bell, is to puff out your cheeks a little. Here's my solution:

http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/images/myMouthpiece

harold wrote:...in Dave's case however, he may be a genetic throwback.

That figures... Luckily I only notice the air leak when I try to play middle of the staff notes and hold them for long duration.

harold wrote:On the bright side Dave, I actually saw Dan looking at your horn the other day. With any luck, he will start taking it apart soon.

That's good news. I talked to Dan last week and he said he should be starting on it very soon. I can't wait to get it back, then I can update my avatar.

Well, on the original question....can't say wrt tuba, because using my PT 64 my corners are not outside the rim, so basically leakage is off the radar. However, on my horn mouthpiece, which is considerably narrower, if I have taken some time off, leakage out one side or the other is fairly common until I get my chop strength up again, and then it goes away. One of these days I'll go too long without practicing like a good girl and I won't get it back again.

On the air up the nose problem....yes it's something you're doing. Can you make a snoring sound on purpose? If so, that's what you're doing physically to let air leak up your nose. Stop doing it and the air won't leak any more. It's a tongue/palate positioning thing. Subtle but correctible.

MA[/i]

Bandmaster wrote:Well, maybe I should ask a question about the problem I have sometimes. From time to time I have a problem with air leaking out through my nose. I always try to play with an open throat and every now and then I can feel small amounts of air escaping through my nostrals. Am I doing something wrong or could it be a physical glitch?

I USED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.. believe it or not, for me it was cause i was not relaxed while playing. when it happens stop, and try to emulate it, find out what the cause is and fix it... just like with any other problem.

as for the leaking out the sides, i have a little bit of that too... its gotten better over the years as i focus more and more on mastry of the instrument. i dont focus on the air leak, it doesnt affect my sound or anything, its just annoying... like taking a loud deep breath instead of a quiet one... its just effiency.. the more u play/practice, the better you will get and the more efficioent youll become... and the problem im sure will fix itself, if not it could possibly be a weakness in your lip muscles. hold a pencil in your lips by the eraser and hold it straight out for as long as u can. do this as an erersize for lips trength, it heped me quite a bit with the problem as well....