Really Firm "Corners"

[Wayne]

I think my embouchure may have been a little flabby my entire life. I can't exactly trace the sequence the other night that led to the experiment, but the result was just trying to really squeeze the muscles beside my lips.

What felt like crazy over tightening led to feeling a lot less fragile in the lips (I remember one of the triggers to the experiment was feeling beat up for no reason) having more control over higher range and getting a clear pedal F really for the first time ever.

Has everyone else who is good been really bearing down in the corners and I was just too chill? I mean. I didn't have puffy cheeks or really suck or anything, but things worked noticeably better with a little more squeeze.

[Doug Elliott]

You're probably overdoing it, but that's OK for discovering the benefits. Then you can relax some and find the right balance.

[mccuskermusic]

I think my embouchure may have been a little flabby my entire life. I can't exactly trace the sequence the other night that led to the experiment, but the result was just trying to really squeeze the muscles beside my lips.

What felt like crazy over tightening led to feeling a lot less fragile in the lips (I remember one of the triggers to the experiment was feeling beat up for no reason) having more control over higher range and getting a clear pedal F really for the first time ever.

Has everyone else who is good been really bearing down in the corners and I was just too chill? I mean. I didn't have puffy cheeks or really suck or anything, but things worked noticeably better with a little more squeeze.

This was 100% my experience as well. After several lessons with Doug and one with Dave Wilken, I started to understand the firm corner sensation and how to apply it to my playing, and I definitely overcompensated for a while in a way that inhibited some things (like my low register), but it still worked significantly better than what I was doing before. It's a balancing act and takes time to figure out the correct ratio of firmness to pucker to relaxed middle. Keep doing it and find what works.

[Wayne]

You're probably overdoing it, but that's OK for discovering the benefits. Then you can relax some and find the right balance.

100%

I've played for about 47 years, and had some good success. I am just free at this point in my life to take "risks" in the practice room and enjoy the process of discovery.

[BillinMich]

I am just free at this point in my life to take "risks" in the practice room and enjoy the process of discovery.

I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been playing for 58 years. I retired from my day gig a couple of years ago so I have time to experiment. I love that freedom.

[Wayne]

I am just free at this point in my life to take "risks" in the practice room and enjoy the process of discovery.

I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been playing for 58 years. I retired from my day gig a couple of years ago so I have time to experiment. I love that freedom.

Howdy neighbour (if your handle means you live in Michigan). I'm just an hour or 2 (depending on highway choice) off the border from Michigan in Southern Ontario.

[TomInME]

I think I've been too loose most of my life also. Recently I was reminded of the very first (useful) exercise I was taught in my wet-paper-bag days: long tones that start soft and crescendo all the way to ff and decrescendo back down to pp (breathing and re-entering when needed), maintaining a vibrant sound/color. Soft, wide slurs seem to help too.
After about 4 months of mixing that into my routine, my corners seem much more locked in. It made major improvements to my stability and consistency playing soft, and has increased efficiency on louder stuff some also.

[Fairweather]

An interesting suposition: Would the admonition to practice very softly largely be intended to work your corners and keep them tight? Asking for a friend.