Posted by Art on July 26, 2000 at 15:19:41:
In Reply to: Leaks in the mouth area posted by Hellbane on July 26, 2000 at 14:46:45:
I had a similar problem. Because of the way my teeth grew, I had to use pressure to avoid air escaping from the sides of my mouth. I solved it by making a wrap-around plastic rim. I made plastic mouthpieces for many years, with rims that fit my mouth. Then I had doug Elliot make me a mouthpiece with a plastic rim with about 1/4 inch of extra material, which I shaped to my liking with sandpaper and steel wool. If you curve the rim too much it interferes a bit with your low register, but the curvature really helped my high register because it allowed me to play with very little pressure.
Another approach to the problem was taken by Don Butterfield. When he went to study with William Bell, Bell advised him to puff out his cheeks a little. I believe that was to solve the same problem.