DarkKnight88

I have noticed the whole east/west thing as well. My Bach 3C plays best when I have the B pointing towards the east. We might be on to something here.

I'am waiting to be a professional level player before I invest in getting a monette mouthpiece (or even a monette trumpet for that matter). Just so it will be more practical for me.

Jazz 9, I would highly suggest trying out different mouthpieces before you make any drastic decisions. However, as mentioned earlier, it may just be inconsistencies with your embouchure. Try to get all of your embouchure issues worked out before you make a mouthpiece change. You may even find that your 7C works just fine, and that you may want to stick with it once you get your chops issue resolved.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of issues do you have with your embouchure?

Jimi Michiel

jazz9-

Let's try a little experiment--for the next week, always make sure that the "B" in Bach is pointed straight up (North). Then let us know if you experience the same inconsistencies. If you find that you are consistently having good days, great! If you consistently have bad days, that is also good because we may have diagnosed part of the problem. Then you can spend some time rotating your mouthpiece to find the sweet spot.

-Jimi

Jimi Michiel

I was surprised to find that my new machine-made Monette mouthpieces also benefit from rotation to find the sweet spot. You're right that it doesn't make any sense, but I'm a firm believer in it anyways...

-Jimi

jazz9

I've never thought of that, but I'll give it a try. My embouchure has always tended to go to my left side and very much "up" on the mouthpiece. I have never had the best endurance. I just got that horn I have been wanting, so I'm playing much better. Many people have told me the 3C is the best and most versatile mp, so I am ordering one of those. I will try the alignment thing, though.

veery715

So did you buy a strad? Congrats if so.
I think you need to pay careful attention to what rowuk wrote (I find myself often touting his point of view). You have a new horn, but you still have a number of problems. Whether they are directly related to trumpet playing (mouthpiece, teacher) or to "life" issues (parent's support or lack of), they will impact on your progress and your playing, new horn or not.

Solutions NEVER lie in changing equipment, unless you are using a total POS. The more variables you introduce into the mix the more difficult it will be to resolve what's going on with your playing problems. Keep changing this or that and you will soon be unhappy with your new trumpet, because your problems will remain and blaming your equipment can only lead to finding fault with the most expensive part of your trumpet investment.

Look at your situation. Parents don't get it. Teacher is elusive. You are in high school and at that age there are other things going on that take some time to "process". Any stressful impact on your existence, big or small, obvious or inconspicuous, will express itself when you play or practice. If things are going poorly, or inconsistently, your trumpet is telling you to look at the rest of your life and deal with your issues.

I know this sounds like a bunch of Zen hooey, but I swear it is true. When you pick up that horn and put it to your lips, everything but trumpet and music should disappear. While you are playing or practicing you should be 100% involved in it. If not, other "stuff" will get in there and mess you up big time. For me, when I play, I get so far away from the problems of living (and there are lots) that they cease to exist, until I stop. Playing is actually therapeutic, a centering and balancing activity which leaves me better able to cope with all that other stuff.

The thrust of this too long post is: 1. Grapple with and resolve whatever life issues you can. 2. Become one with your horn when you pick it up - it wants ALL of your attention. 3. Don't make scapegoats of your equipment, for it is NOT the source of your playing problems, and changing it won't help.

As rowuk says, when you are happy, then it is the time to seek change.

Jimi Michiel

hubnub-

I find that "dialing in" my mouthpiece makes a difference no matter what brand I'm playing, Monette's included. The amount of effect varies by instrument, though. On my Monette instrument, tweaking the valve caps makes a HUGE difference, whereas rotating the mouthpiece does not make as much difference as it would on a Bach trumpet.

-Jimi

tedh1951

Lads,

I very nearly didn't believe this (call me sceptical if you will) - but this seems to work for me too - I will continue the search for the correct compass bearing for all my horns - simply fascinating.

jazz9

veery, yes I bought that Strad, but it's a used one. It is a great horn, and it is better than the one I played at the store at about half the price of that one. I am very pleased, I just need to get everything straight. I need to get my embouchure and breathing consistent. I never really learned to breathe properly for trumpet playing. I always just took a big breath and blew. Any suggestions for breathing exercises that may help? The embouchure thing will have to be my own doing.

bagmangood

monette monette monette to speak along the words of most of this thread
and i'm being serious too: David G. Monette Corporation
read that stuff and I think Rowuk has some nice discussions on breathing somewhere on the site, search around...

Schwab

You've been practicing breathing since you were born! Big breath in, let it out. Try to breath in time with the music. Thats all there is to it. Air is free, take advantage.