Embouchure isometrics are exercises involving the static contraction of the embouchure muscles without any visible movement. These exercises do not require the use of any equipments, and can be performed away from the horn thus saving time. These exercises may not be suitable for beginners when they have not developed the concept of a proper embouchure form. However when practiced with a proper embouchure form, these exercises can greatly improve the player's endurance on the horn in a time efficient manner. As a cautionary note, the player should realize this kind of mass muscle building cannot replace the fine-tuning of the muscles that can is achieved by playing on the actual horn and with long tones and long tone intervals as well as normal speed playing.
1) Isometric Push
For starters, it is better to first get used to this exercise on the mouthpiece. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, form the proper embouchure as if you are playing. Then, increase the embouchure pressure towards the center of the mouthpiece and squeeze as hard as you can for as long as you can hold the proper embouchure form. Stop and rest for a while and repeat only when you feel ready. There is no need to overwork and injure your muscles. Once you get the idea, you can do the same exercise without the mouthpiece and work against your own muscle instead. Imagine squeezing towards the center of a zero diameter mouthpiece, while still keeping the proper embouchure form. One should imagine applying equal pressure towards the center point all 360 degrees around, instead of applying upward and downward forces as in upper lip pressing against lower lip only. One needs to develop the whole ring of the embouchure instead of only certain parts of it.
2) Isometric Pull
Isometric Pulls work the muscles in the opposite directions, which can help to improve the speed when opening up your embouchure for breathing. This practice will also result in a more balanced or well rounded embouchure. For completeness, the player should practice the pulling away of both the upper and lower lips. Practically however, the fastest way to open up for inhalation is to keep your lower embouchure intact with proper form and pressure, and only lifting the upper lips to inhale while still having your upper teeth in contact with the mouthpiece (of course, this is not applicable for double embouchures, which I don't recommend anyways). Therefore it might not leave too much limitations for the player even if he does not strive to develop the pulling away of the lower lips.
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