[Harp-L] Re: [HarpTalk] what's the best embouchure?

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I can only speak for myself, because I know of really good players of 
each persuasion. So I am answering this understanding that THE BEST 
embouchure is the one that works for ya.

Now, I play only tongue blocking. I probably do so because I learned 
that way and have never had occasion to change. I learned that way 
because someone told me that ALL the really good players use tongue 
blocking. (Untrue, of course.)

BTW, I was already a brass player before I learned harp. I sometimes 
wonder if pucker embouchure would have been more natural for me. Any 
other brass players to comment on that?

Tongue blocking has never stopped me or made it difficult for me to play 
whatever I can hear in my head. I can overblow (which I do rarely), play 
valved (which I mostly do), do rapid double and triple tonguing, and get 
a nice tone.

I have been told by a variety of people - whom I regard as very good 
players but nonetheless mistaken - that I can't tongue block and do 
rapid tonguing, can't overblow, etc. Another blow against orthodoxy!

I sincerely believe that if you want to play good harp, you are willing 
to practice, you are willing to really listen to yourself, you will 
develop the technique that you need/want using whatever embouchure is 
comfortable and works for you.

  -LM