The Balanced Embouchure (Jeff Smiley), - anyone come across it? Options

[briantrumpet]

Agreed - but try getting a 13-yr old to be patient! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) It doesn't help that the (17-yr old) lead trumpet player in our music centre band is superb and has a jaw-dropping command of the upper register. Son No.1 has a tendency to assume that he should be able to do the same if he is a "proper" trumpet player

There have probably been more young embouchures screwed up by wanting to get high notes too soon than anything else. Someone I know decided early on that he was never going to make a high note man, so decided to become an extremely good 2nd trumpet - and that's what he did, and got lots of work.

Unfortunately, some people's faces just won't turn into high note faces, however much effort is put in. But that's probably not the message a 13-year-old would want to face yet. Or ought to. But the most important message is - don't take short cuts. Follow a good routine - which must include well-executed and unforced lip slurs daily - and, if you're lucky, you might get there. And you'll certainly get closer.