Forming The Trombone Embouchure

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As teachers, we know that if a student gets the embouchure correct in the beginning, he/she will have more success and less problems in the future.  Without the foundation of a correct embouchure, the brass player will not be able to develop endurance, range or flexibility.  On this page, you will find multiple ways of teaching the embouchure to students.  Each way is a proven, reliable method.  Multiple ways are being provided to accommodate individual teaching preferences for different teaching styles.  Nobody likes to be told what to do, so options have been provided to allow you to choose which best suits you. 

Embou-Sure Method by Bob Spevacek

  1. The corners of the mouth are firmed exactly where they are on an expressionless face.  The degree of firmness should be not unlike that of a warm, friendly handshake.  
  2. The corners of the mouth do not move nor should the degree of tension change from one register to another.
  3. The mouthpiece should be centered on the lip and placed approximately half and half on the upper and lower lips.  Many low brass players place slightly more upper lip in mouthpiece.  Problems in range can result from extreme vertical placement.
  4. Use only enough mouthpiece pressure to allow the lips to vibrate.  Excess pressure will result in reduced range and endurance.  Another result will be a strained, edgy tone quality and an aperture in the embouchure that is too open, thus requiring even more pressure to reach the upper range.
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"Expressionless" face.
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Corners are firmed in place.
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Mouthpiece is centered horizontally and vertically.

Method from Teaching Brass: A Resource Manual

  1. The lips are together
  2. The jaw drops comfortably down and slightly out.
  3. The chin is flat.
  4. The muscles around the lips form a slight cushion for the mouthpiece rim.
  5. The corners are firm, but not pulled back into a smile.
  6. The mouthpiece is centered on the lips from left to right.  It should be placed half on the top lip and half on the bottom lip to start.  Some variation is acceptable to allow each player to find the best setting.
  7. Excessive mouthpiece pressure should be avoided at all times.
Forming The Trombone Embouchure
This is a brief video which focuses on forming the trombone embouchure in a very simple manner.  
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