Should young people with thick lips be discouraged from playing the French horn?

It's been said many times by band directors and teachers that students with larger lips should be discouraged from playing French horn, and that those with thin lips will have more success. But is this true? Join Dr. Derek J. Wright as he discusses this contentious issue and takes your questions!

[jodie]

I feel a lot better about the fact that my bottom lip rolls over the outside of the mouthpiece rim. It's not hurting my face and I don't think it's hurting my tone so I can get off my own case a little bit more now.

[MarkTaylorMusic]

Every teacher I had up through most of undergrad would say, "I don't know how you can play with your mouthpiece set into the upper lip like that, but it seems to work..." About my junior year, my then teacher decided it was time to switch to a more conventional placement. It worked fine (I guess) for many years until I developed Embouchure Dystonia. As I work to rebuild my playing, I have to consciously let go of some of my ideas about what the embouchure should "look like". I played on a Giardinelli C12 for many years. Talk about too small...

[NC-ffpv]

Thank you so much for this video! Much needed! 🙏

[quack]

as a thick lipped boy, i play with my upper lip over the mouthpiece using farkas, and I hate it. Thank you so much for telling me why

[donguyen]

Cảm ơn bạn rất nhiều về cách hướng dẫn này❤

[henryviets]

Dr. Wright I’ve taught for 28 years primarily elementary brass instruments. Yes, the MDC is not a good mouthpiece for the majority of people. However, the Farkas MC seems to be the best option for most in my opinion. Also, can you please compare your wonderful Medlin horn with a Schmidt?

[angeliney]

Thank you SO MUCH for doing this video. I have full lips and wonder why the band teacher ever put me on the horn!

Could you please spell the names of the mouthpieces that you recommended? I can't figure out how to spell "varex" or is it "farex"?

Thank you.

[stevelogan]

Well, my comment might be very different or maybe not so much. I am 67 y/o and began horn lessons for the first time ever in Aug. 2016 when I was 62 y/o. Prior that I was a very amateur bass trombonist. But when I was in 7th grade and had been recently switched from cornet to tenor trombone I asked my band director if I could switch to the horn because I loved their sound. He told me no because my lips were too thick. So, I somewhat reluctantly stuck with the trombone and eventually the bass trombone but always secretly desired to be a horn player. I also have a "tear drop" formation in my top lip but finally in Aug. 2016 I decided to just go for it and began horn lessons. I'm still taking horn lessons and enjoying them. My sound and range is okay and I work on my high range gradually. My endurance needs help but I'm working on that, too. All that to say this: I'm an individual with thick lips and a tear drop formation in my top lip who is playing the horn successfully, a member of a community orchestra and I no longer consider myself a bass trombonist but, rather, a horn player who is finally after many decades realizing his dream! People with thick lips (and even having a top lip tear formation) can indeed play the horn quite successfully! There's absolutely no reason to discourage any student with thick lips from playing the horn. Who knows? They just might become a virtuoso horn player! Anything is possible with people!👍🏻📯

Steve Logan😎📯

[annikawhite_m]

Excellent video - thank you so much. I am a percussionist currently on the horn in class brass and this has really helped me establish a better sound.

[sammyjones]

I have medium/thin lips, and i can't use the Holton mdc. The 'standard' size stork rim was even more of a squeeze - couldnt really use it at all. At the same time, i've tried mouthpieces which i thought were way too big for me (MY9, giardinelli c6). So to me, it seemed ridiculous to think of lip size as a limitation when the range of mouthpiece designs is so vast