Here is another question emailed to me from a tubist named Michael.
I just watched a few of your videos and they have given me alot of insight. I play the tuba, and I have known for a while that it is my embouchure, and not my air, that was restricting my high notes (since I could play some notes on euph that I couldnt on tuba). Through experimentation, I have decided that the reason is my lower lip doesn’t provide a firm enough surface for my upper lip to vibrate against (im a down winder). I saw that you said miscitto buzzes can help with upper lip str., but do you know a good way to work on lower lip str?
Michael is referring specifically to my vod on free buzzing, I think. In that video I discuss an exercise where you imitate the sound of a mosquito buzzing to encourage working the muscles that all intersect around the mouth corners. As you build strength at the mouth corners you will also be developing strength and control of your lower lip as well, so I recommend free buzzing for you also.
That said, without more information I can’t really suggest anything else you can be doing. It’s very hard to self-diagnose your own embouchure. Just because you think you have one of the downstream embouchure types doesn’t necessarily mean that you really do. Or that you should really be playing with that embouchure type. I personally don’t teach video lessons. That said, if you are able to take some video footage of your embouchure and let me look at it I might be able to spot something useful. If you’re not already doing so, see if you can get together with a private teacher who can take the time to help you spot what you can do to improve but also prioritize things to work on.
