What do I do about playin with me cheeks "puffed out?"?

Question

I currently play in my high school's marching and symphonic band. but i continue to play with my cheeks puffed out. i sound good but i heard it can mees up your sound later on. does anyone know how i can fix that?

Answer 1

The best way to break this habit, is to get used to playing with air coming from your gut, instead of it being supplied by the reserve created in your puffed cheeks. You will learn quickly that there are muscles that need to be developed to increase air flow from you lungs out your mouth through your diaphram. You will need to get used to the sensation of the system of air flowing from your lungs through your throat and into your horn. This is hard especially due to your gag reflex, something that no one likes to master. What the gag reflex is: the natural closing of your throat due to the perception of lack of oxygen in your system. Try doing long tone excerisizes to help you with the reflex and de-puffing your cheeks. Personally, I do not think that puffing your cheeks is a bad mechanism, but to decrease your dependency of bad air flow you will need to master how much air you pass through the horn.

Answer 2

If you play a reed instrument, keep your lips tight around the mouthpiece, like a rubber band. You should be able to use two fingers and feel how tight the corners of your mouth are. I'm guessing the same goes for brass instruments, besides the part about your lips around the mouthpiece. I honestly don't know how you can play well with puffed out cheeks, although I've seen people do it before. I did that when I first started playing, but now I squeek something awful if my mouth isn't set right. You're right, though, it will mess up your sound in the future.

Answer 3

There really isn't anything wrong with puffing your cheeks out while playing, as long as you can get good enough vibration through your cheeks. One of trumpet's best players, along with composing his own songs, and leading his own band. He influenced some of trumpet greats like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Jon Faddis. He could arguable be one of Jazz's best trumpet players ever. And what he did, no other trumpet player did do, was he blew his cheeks out, and eventually destroyed the muscles in his cheeks, and whenever he plays, they automatically blow up huge! that is the reason, your director probably said not to blow them up. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Not only can it mess up your sound, it can stretch out the skin on your cheeks. Remember Dizzy Gillespie. Try not blowing so hard into your mouthpiece (I am assuming that you are playing brass) and try to stay concious of it when you are playing, that helps a lot. Also talk to your band director about your concerns, or other musicians in your line. Either of them would be happy to help you. Good luck.

Answer 5

I use to have that problem and the only thing I can tell you is that if you're consciously always thinking about the shape of your mouth then eventually it will become second nature. I've always told my students to play like their whistling.

Also your cheeks usually puff out when you breath in gasps. You should work on breathing from your diaphagm and controlling the air out, again, like you're whistling.

Answer 6

Maybe if you open your mouth wider or longer or whatever your cheeks would seem less puffy.....and dont force it so much..but i wouldnt know cus i dont play a brass or woodwind instrument...unless you count recorder...which is nothing

Answer 7

hm... what instrument do you play?? i used to play trumpet, all you really have to do is keep your lips tight and pursed, kinda like when you whistle... it takes awhile to get used to, you can always ask you band teacher for some help if you cant get used to it

Answer 8

Unpuff.