Embouchure Issues

[TubaSailor]

Another possiblility: Calcium deficiency - try taking 3-4 Tums or something like that 20 min. before practicing and see if that helps - (a lack of calcium will make your lips turn numb, maybe tingle, and muscles difficult to control) Good luck

[NDSPTuba]

I noticed that I had similar problems for a while when I was using too much pressure. It took long while to get loose every time I picked up the horn. But now that I make a point to play with a little pressure as possible, I find I'm not having the tight chops issue anymore.

It is an easy trap to fall into when you have taken a break from playing. Using too much pressure to "force" the chops into doing things your mind is accustomed to doing, but your chops aren't up to the task yet.

[djwesp]

You won't like my response...


I think you should contact a reputable teacher or an embouchure guru and let them SEE and diagnose your problems.

In a setting like this there are definitely some things that can't be diagnosed. Taking advice from any poster on a subject like this when they have yet to see or hear you play, is dangerous at best. While Roger Lewis offers good advice (you should use the search function and find him and read up on some of his posts), even Roger himself would be very weary of diagnosing or helping an embouchure issue online.

PERSONALLY, I would contact

1. The nearest outstanding tuba player

2. Doug Elliot (Mouthpiece Maker/Freelance Player)

3. Dave Wilken (UNC-Asheville)


Some of the greatest tuba players in the world have no concept of how the embouchure works or how to fix embouchure problems, HOWEVER, modeling after them or using their exercises/techniques to push the embouchure can correct some issues. (a jacobs-ish sort of approach, where it doesn't matter as long as it works and if you make it harder it will eventually find a way to work or change)

Doug and Dave are "embouchure gurus" of sorts. They have made a name for themselves in diagnosing a players embouchure type and providing instruction to correctly utilize/alter the embouchure to work correctly.


Wes "going thru an embouchure change right now, feeling your frustration" pendergrass

[Doug Elliott]

And I'm a member here again... I was a member of the old TubeNet, but just recently started reading it again and rejoined.

I don't know what part of the country (or world) you're in, but it could be the weather. Cold weather does pretty much the same thing to me. Another related simple possibility is "crud on your lips" in the morning, that takes a while to break up. Try wiping off your lips inside and out with alcohol - then moisturize or you'll dry them out. That can help tremendously to get a "clean" start with your lips vibrating freely.

If there's more to it than that, I'm in Maryland near DC in case you're interested.

[DLThomas]

Ditto on the replies so far.

I would only add that I experienced something similar several months ago, but also with some swelling and soreness of the lips. After some internet research following a chat with my medical doctor (who didn't really have any ideas about the cause) I came to the conclusion that "embouchure overuse" was the culprit. How to fix with no opportunity for outside tuba teacher/pro consultation? To the best of my (limited) ability, I reviewed the "mechanics" of my playing and concluded a tuba stand might help. I've since gotten the TubaAssist and, indeed, I'm now able to play more comfortably with less pressure.

Of course, all the other stuff still applies -- warmups, warmdowns, scales, etc., etc.

Dave "3 or 4 hour gigs aren't quite so intimidating anymore"

[Tubadork]

you can also read this article by Dave Zerkel and see if it applies or helps any
http://dzerkel.myweb.uga.edu/resources/ ... chure.html" target="_blank" target="_blank
Bill

[Roger Lewis]

Yes, Dave's article is excellent and he is a great, great teacher and astounding player.

One aspect I like to point out to my students, which may also be in play here:

I also relate the playing experience to a race car. As a player we have a symbiotic relationship between the air and the embouchure - neither one by itself can produce the sound. They have to work together - BUT - they are not equal. The "spit valve drill" demonstrates this (search previous posts for description).

You can take a fantastic motor and put it in a race car and use crappy fuel and the car won't be competitive. On the other hand you can put a crappy motor in a race car and put great fuel in it and it WILL be competitive. The air is the fuel and the embouchure is the motor. I would have you examine the fuel.

Just my ramblings.
Roger

[jonesbrass]

And I'm a member here again... I was a member of the old TubeNet, but just recently started reading it again and rejoined.

I don't know what part of the country (or world) you're in, but it could be the weather. Cold weather does pretty much the same thing to me. Another related simple possibility is "crud on your lips" in the morning, that takes a while to break up. Try wiping off your lips inside and out with alcohol - then moisturize or you'll dry them out. That can help tremendously to get a "clean" start with your lips vibrating freely.

If there's more to it than that, I'm in Maryland near DC in case you're interested.

If you'd really like to know what's up with your embouchure, I'd second the recommendation for Doug Elliott.