Approach (wind instrument)

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As approach to the technique of attaching called a wind instrument at the mouth of the musician. This not only includes the exact positioning of the instrument and the correct lip and jaw position, but also refers to the player's ability to play persistently with consistently good sound quality. One also speaks of the fact that when you take longer breaks from practice, the first thing to do is to “lose your approach”.

The approach techniques for woodwind instruments and brass instruments are fundamentally different, as both groups of instruments follow different sound generation principles.

Woodwind instruments

Approach to the clarinet

With woodwind instruments, the approach is used to transfer the air flow generated by the player as best as possible to the vibration generator on the instrument mouthpiece (reed or blowing edge).

Brass instruments

With brass instruments, the vibration is generated by the lip muscles of the player and is only transmitted to the air column in the instrument with the aid of the mouthpiece. Increased lip tension in connection with increased air pressure is a prerequisite for playing high notes. Since, in contrast to the mechanical vibration generators of woodwind instruments, the lip muscle fatigues over time, the approach in brass players corresponding to the training of the lip muscles has a decisive influence on endurance, the sound and the ability to play high notes.

In both cases, the exact position of the mouthpiece on the lips will vary depending on both the instrument and the individual techniques of the player. Some wind players also try to strengthen the muscles for the attachment with lip dumbbells .

See also

literature

  • Heinz Burum : The secret of the right approach. Modern instructions on blowing metal wind instruments with a kettle mouthpiece . Extended Edition. Editions Bim, Bulle (Switzerland) 1986, ISBN 2-88039-008-7 .