Responses of trumpeters and horn players have been examined in order to understand the effect of air support on the embouchure, extraneous muscle tension, mouthpiece pressure, and quality of performance. We are investigating the behaviors and skills required to control air at the embouchure and to record the impact on (1) the quality of the sound produced, (2) the range of pitches that can be produced, (3) control of musical dynamics (loudness), and (4) perceived difficulty.

Research participants include college level horn and trumpet players. Each performer was asked to play an arpeggio at three dynamics (pp, mf, ff), a two-octave concert Bb scale with three types of articulation, their three lowest and highest notes, and an etude. Chest bellows were used to measure expansion of the upper chest and abdomen. Gas pressure sensors attached to a fine tube placed in the corner of the mouth were used to measure air pressure inside the mouth. A force sensor placed in a sleeve between the mouthpiece and the instrument was used to measure pressure on the embouchure. Extraneous muscle tension was measured electromyographically. All measures, including sound, were digitized and integrated into a single data file.

Preliminary results confirm the expectation that force applied to the mouthpiece increases with pitch. This increase is nonlinear, increasing approximately one pound per square inch for each octave and then one pound per square inch for each additional note. For some performers, internal air pressure just prior to note release accurately predicted pitch. Similarities between horn players and trumpeters on the same concert pitches were also observed. Analysis of the interrelationship between air pressure, embouchure pressure, sound quality, and musicality will be reported.

These results demonstrate that it is possible to study dynamic changes in the air support system during brass performance. Understanding these changes should help us differentiate expert from novice performance and to understand the dynamics of performance difficulty.