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CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF
MAURICE MALCOLM PORTER (1909-1986)
Embouchure
/ˌɒmbʊˈʃʊə/
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.
The embouchure is vitally important to wind and brass players. Each type of wind instrument has its own unique embouchure requirements.
Dentist, Maurice Porter (1909-1986), himself an amateur clarinettist, understood how important a player’s dentition, lip and facial structure are to the sound created by an instrument. He dedicated his professional life to helping woodwind and brass instrument players maintain the best possible embouchure by providing specialist dental advice and treatment that he had developed from his years’ of research. He was able to help musicians, many with poor dentition or facial injuries perform with confidence.
In May 2023, the British Dental Association Museum and the Porter family hosted a small exhibition celebrating the life and pioneering work of Maurice Porter during the latter half of the twentieth century. From the BDA Museum’s exhibition of Maurice Porter’s work, this online learning resource and reference for dentists and musicians has been created.
The exhibition can be visited Wednesdays 11 -3 pm and at other times by appointment (see contact page) until 1st November 2023
The video below provides insight into the importance of embouchure for modern day instrumentalists
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The British Dental Association Museum is located in the BDA Headquaters in Wimpole Street. It contains over 25,000 objects that reflect the development of the dental profession. Maurice Porter’s embouchure work forms part of this collection.