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Many years ago, when I was a music major in college, I took a woodwinds-for-non-woodwinds-players class. I chose flute as my axe for the duration. In my method book, it showed a picture of a beautiful, perfectly formed oval embouchure. No such image appeared in my mirror. In fact, the book clearly said if your upper lip had too much of a "Cupid's Bow" in it, then flute was not for you. My mouth always formed something more like a flattened figure eight, which produced a bifurcated breath stream.
Fast forward about 45 years. I have begun playing euphonium after decades of tuba. I have noticed if I play above a middle C, if my mouthpiece placement is not a little off-center, that same embouchure bifucation occurs, and I get a double buzz, with the two halves of my upper lip vibrating noticeably off from each other. I never noticed it with tuba, since the mouthpiece was so much bigger, and frankly, the notes were just plain lower.
I have seen videos of many brass players with an off-center placement, including one of my euphonium idols, Glenn van Looy. I assumed it was due to the unique configuration of each player's teeth, but now I'm not so sure.
Any thoughts, experience, with off-center placement and issues?
Thanks.
Fast forward about 45 years. I have begun playing euphonium after decades of tuba. I have noticed if I play above a middle C, if my mouthpiece placement is not a little off-center, that same embouchure bifucation occurs, and I get a double buzz, with the two halves of my upper lip vibrating noticeably off from each other. I never noticed it with tuba, since the mouthpiece was so much bigger, and frankly, the notes were just plain lower.
I have seen videos of many brass players with an off-center placement, including one of my euphonium idols, Glenn van Looy. I assumed it was due to the unique configuration of each player's teeth, but now I'm not so sure.
Any thoughts, experience, with off-center placement and issues?
Thanks.
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