The Challenge of the Perfect Embouchure

The main instrument of any musician is their own body. From the brain to the limbs, to the internal organs, to the skin, different parts of the body interact with musical instruments, with other bodies and the world around them to create music. It's no wonder, then, that musicians and their health are a topic of interest in medicine.

An interesting example was presented by the British Dental Museum this year with the exhibition The Challenge of the Perfect Embouchure. Defined as "the way in which a player applies their mouth to the mouthpiece of a brass or wind instrument, especially as it affects the production of the sound," embouchure is critical for players of these kinds of instruments.

The exhibition was dedicated to Maurice Porter, a dentist and amateur clarinettist who became an authority on embouchure during the 50s and 60s. One of the first doctors to pay attention to how poor dental or facial health was specifically detrimental to wind and brass players, Porter wrote some of the first articles addressing the issue, and then a book titled The Embouchure, which became a main reference in the field.

Porter helped numerous musicians directly and indirectly. His word was recognised with multiple awards and honorary positions, and it's now exhibited online on a dedicated website that you can visit by clicking here. The physical exhibition, which included letters, personal items, performance dentures specifically made to be worn when playing instruments, 3D models and drawings, is unfortunately no longer available. The British Dental Museum itself is closed until further notice, but there are a lot of information and resources on their website.