Dear Dr. Tom,

I am a 45 year old trombone player who played actively in high school but only sporadically over the last 25 years.  I am now seriously interested in taking my playing to higher levels.  I have a smiling embouchure and use a lot of mouthpiece pressure, which my teacher says I need to change in order to improve my range.  I am having fits trying to change my embouchure and can barely play a low B flat after two weeks.  Is there hope?  Can this old dog learn new tricks?  I will spend any amount of time and effort to make this work, I just don't want to end up spoiling my ability to play at all.  Thank you.

Dr. Tom's response:

Oh, yes, there's hope Doug. It will take some diligent work, but you can do it. I would play in front of a mirror (a small one on the stand is fine). Think about keeping the corners firm and still. They'll also need to be held low and close together. Say this out loud: "OOOOOO" (as in FOOD). Now say: "AAAAA "(as in CAT). Somewhere right between the 2 is the home for your corners. Generally, I like to teach students to keep the system as "stress-free" as possible. Thus, as close to your normal rested face as possible.

Practice long tones, starting on low E. Put a metronome on 60 and hold each note for 8 beats, with a 4 beat crescendo then a 4-beat diminuendo. Not too loud, though. Piano to mezzo-forte is plenty at first. Ascend to the highest note you can comfortably play, then REST for a few minutes at least. The whole time, keep an eye in the mirror. When you notice the "smile" sneaking back into your embouchure, compensate with more air speed and allow the tongue to arch (like saying "EEEEEEE" ). The higher the note, the more "pucker" feel you want. This allows for resonance and endurance in the higher registers, along with a tone that is unforced and gorgeous. It's a "feel" thing more than strength. Almost everyone has the strength to hold their corners firm, avoiding the smile. They just don't trust that it will work. It will work.

The teeth can come closer together in the upper registers,too. This will help. They simply need to be open enough to allow a free-flow of air to the lips.
We MUST remember to BLOW. Sometimes it feels like we're moving a ton of air, when in actuality nothing is getting THROUGH the lips. Always have the sensation of air passing THROUGH the lips, in every register at every dynamic level.
I love warming up by blowing into a pinwheel. The pinwheel likes a steady flow of non-pressurized that never fluctuates. So does the trombone!
Try the breathing exercises described in the General Area at trombonelessons.com.
When it's time to correct an embouchure issue, it's always best to start by BREATHING and BLOWING.
Before the long tones each day, do the Breathing Routine for 5-10 minutes. This will help your body develop a feel for "air passing THROUGH the lips". Very often while I'm playing, I will visualize the pinwheel at the end of my bell and I'll strive to keep it spinning.
Have a beautiful sound in your imagination. Meditate on the sound of Tommy Dorsey, or Joe Alessi, or someone who's sound you greatly admire.
Relax. Take a nice, full, easy breath and BLOW. Make the lips vibrate.
Drastic changes won't happen overnight. It might be wise to record yourself and notice the gradual changes over time (weeks/months).
Trust the breath and trust that you have more than enough "strength" to hold the corners firm. It will happen.