cushion of air

As you play, the feeling of a cushion of air between the lips and gums helps, and a slight puffing of the cheeks, creates a free and resonant sound, while releasing embouchure tension especially at the edges.  We are always taught to play without puffing out our cheeks. When you maintain this cushion of air, however, there will be a distinct release of tension which will not allow the smiling embouchure – an embouchure that is detrimental to color and sound. Further, the openness in your oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cavities presents new opportunities for resonance and tone color.