Embouchure

The embouchure is the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. Less frequently, it is used to mean the mouthpiece itself.

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The word is of French origin and is related to the root bouche (fr.), 'mouth'.

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The proper embouchure allows the instrumentalist to play the instrument at its full range with a full, clear tone and without strain or damage to one's muscles.

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While performing on a brass instrument, the sound is produced by the player buzzing his or her lips into a mouthpiece. Pitches are changed in part through altering the amount of muscular contraction in the lip formation. The performer's use of the air as well as tongue manipulation can affect how the embouchure works.

Mouthpiece: :For the hardcore punk band, see Mouthpiece (band)....

Wind instrument: A wind instrument is a member of a family of musical instruments. Wind instruments consist of a tube containing a column of air which is set into vibration by the player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set into the end of the tube....