Start With The Reed Only!!!

Forming Embouchure

• Lower your jaw and place the tip of the reed on your lower lip
• Draw the reed into your mouth and take the lower lip with it
• Bring the top lip down slightly over your teeth
• This should create a slight, soft overbite
• Do not bite or clamp own on the reed as it will choke the vibrations

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"Crowing" the Reed

This is produced by using only the reed.  It is good way to get a feel for the correct embouchure.

• Breathe correctly using good support from the diaphragm
  
• Crow on the reed. The crow is the sound made when all the pitches are produced simultaneously. It requires a very loose embouchure and an open throat.
• If the reed is crowing properly you should hear three pitches
• If a single pitch is sounded, embouchure is too tight.
• It takes practice to produce a crow. Many students cannot do this at first keep trying, seek out your music teacher or your favorite bassoonist for help if you not having success.
  
• Practice removing the reed and putting it back in your mouth to get the  “feel” of the embouchure.