One of the trickiest things to learn and master when playing an instrument is the embouchure, or mouth position. You can’t just pucker your lips or blow into a mouthpiece, controlling the air as you blow it out can impact the octave and volume of the pitch. But this can be hard, especially when it involves facial muscles you might not be used to using. To practice the correct form and technique, the Grade 6 Band students practiced launching a single grain of rice from their lips while holding the correct embouchure for their instrument. If the student did it correctly, the grain of rice easily flies into the air, but if the embouchure is not correct or tight enough, the rice just drops or doesn’t move at all. Some of the students were able to launch their rice grains with ease and speed while others really worked at it. By the end, everyone was making great progress…and distance!
