Squeezing cheeks when playing high?

[Christian1483]

So I've only been playing for like 4 years and have been having tons of range troubles, and recently got a teacher to hopefully fix said range troubles. Earlier today I was watching some videos and heard someone say something about feeling it in your cheeks and not your lips, and was wondering exactly what that meant. Does anyone know if its good to actually feeling squeezing in your cheeks, or what else are you supposed to do when playing high?

[Doug Elliott]

Absolutely not.
Except your butt cheeks, maybe you misunderstood.

But there's so much more to fixing range issues...
I do Skype lessons for exactly that, if you're interested.

[Christian1483]

[Doug Elliott]

I diagnose and teach individual players what THEY need to do to play efficiently. Sure, there are general principles that apply to everybody, but pretty much everything depends on what you are currently doing and where to go from there. You're having problems, and there's no point in guessing randomly what you need to do to fix it. "Average embouchure" doesn't tell me anything useful. You can spend decades trying average things that might work.

[Christian1483]

[Doug Elliott]

You should have a steady teacher, and that's not what I do.
In one lesson I can put you on the right path of how to play and how to practice for your particular issues. Playing does not need to be hard.

[JayKosta]

For general info about embouchure, I've written an article that discusses the main points of 'what needs to be happening' - it's not really about 'how to do it' but gives an overview of what gets discussed regarding embouchure.
http://users.hancock.net/jkosta/Embouchure_Basic_Concepts.htm

Regarding 'cheeks' - remember that the important issue is what happens to the lips - if someone has good sensory feel of their cheeks and that helps them control their lips, then great. This might be similar to 'tongue position'.

A good 'embouchure teacher' should be able to quickly identify and really teach the specifics for YOUR situation.
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[Christian1483]

[Robert P]

"Feel it in your cheeks" is vague. I suppose someone might perceive it that way but there are numerous ways to apply muscular tension in regard to your facial muscles - I regard making an overt effort to specifically squeeze/tighten your cheeks as counterproductive.

Another one you'll probably hear at some point is people taking about "keeping tight corners" - same thing, there's an infinite number of ways the corners can be tight, most of which aren't conducive to playing. When I tried focusing on "corners" it was nothing but counterproductive, it locked me up. I personally think of an overall tension not any one specific place. You need to get familiar with what it feels like to play specific notes at different volume levels, experiment with what works for you and internalize it.
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[Richard III]

My cheeks get tired and I can feel the contraction there. I think it is part of using a longer aperture tunnel and contracting behind the lips to keep the vibrating surface relaxed. Embouchure styles do vary as do approaches. I've found it difficult to explain the feeling to others who think everything happens at the point of contact with the mouthpiece.
_________________
Richard

Today's Trumpet: 1937 Cleveland Toreador
Today's Cornet: 1947 Cleveland Clevelander
1943 Conn 80A Cornet

[Tony Scodwell]

Dizzy Gillespie was fond of telling young players that you need to tighten your "cheeks" for better results up high. Obviously he was referring to your butt. Just don't eat too much Mexican food before a gig...

Tony Scodwell
www.scodwellusa.com