Brochure

5
The Rim
A well-constructed brass instrument
mouthpiece should have a medium-wide
rim with a fairly sharp inner edge. If
the mouthpiece is properly placed, it will
permit the lips to move slightly forward
and backward. For high tones, a player
will draw the lips farther back; while
for low tones, the lip muscles will relax,
permitting the lips to protrude.
A sharp rim will not cut the lip if the
flat face of the mouthpiece rim is placed
on the lips in (or slightly above) a hori-
zontal position, with the mouthpiece at
a 90 degree angle against the front teeth.
A sharp inner edge against the lip will
automatically remind the player that the
instrument is not being held correctly.
The use of a mouthpiece without a
sharp inner edge is not recommended,
as it would not allow sufficient surface
to distribute pressure over the lips. A
too-rounded rim will dig into the lips,
limiting the player’s endurance.
A player with a normal embouchure
and fairly muscular lips should prefer a
medium-wide rim, which will allow
both flexibility and endurance. A too-
wide rim will clamp down lip muscles
and embouchure flexibility, and the
effect will be noticeable on quick
tonal changes.
Players with very thick lips, however,
can use a wide rim to advantage, as a
medium-wide rim might dig into the soft
tissues of the lips and interfere with the
blood circulation. Players who cannot
overcome the habit of “forcing” high
tones, or band members who occasionally
smack the mouthpiece against the lips
while marching may also consider it
advantageous to use wide-rimmed
mouthpieces. However, even very thick-
lipped musicians and marching band
musicians should prefer medium-wide
rims if they do not feel hindered in using
them, for mouthpieces with extra-wide
rims encourage a player to use too much
pressure for the high notes instead of
relying on the lip muscles to do the work.
A narrow rim offers a trumpet or
trombone player greater flexibility, but
it tends to dig into the flesh of the lips,
cutting off free blood circulation and
decreasing endurance. Horn players often
prefer a medium-narrow rim because
their instrument covers so wide a range
(a fourth lower than a trombone and
almost as high as a trumpet). The medi-
um-narrow rim enables the horn player
to move the lips much more easily; the
lips will be able to protrude for the low
tones and retract for the high tones.