Aperture

Here are some examples of optimal and less optimal aperture formations. These pictures are about how you should think aperture, in reality it will look somewhat different. If you think Nr. 4, then your actual embouchure will look something like Nr. 2. But if you think Nr. 2 then the embouchure will resemble Nr. 1.

1. Flat aperture - Poor

2. Semi-Flat aperture - Poor

3. Round aperture - Good

You can imagine an aperture in a camera lense.

4. Tall, thin, vertical aperture - Good

Excessive mouthpiece pressure causes the aperture to flatten and eventually close the aperture¹.

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1. see Reynolds handbook p. 24 ↩︎