I firmly believe a good rule of thumb for all brass players is that the angle of the lead pipe should follow the angle of the jaw. Though there are certainly exceptions, especially for students with special or unusual bone structures, but I have found those to be few and far between. Following that rule generally fosters good posture, orientation of the instrument to the body, hand position, embouchure, air flow, inhalation, flexibility, tonguing and tone production. And it is so easy to assess even the largest of brass sections by simply monitoring that obvious alignment. 

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America

About the Author

Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. Dr. Boonshaft is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music and Director of Bands. He has also been named Director of Education for KHS America. He was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education.”