Trumpet Dad

When it comes to kids, why is so little attention given to mouthpieces? We don't expect all 10-year olds to wear the same size shoes or the same prescription lenses. Why on earth would we expect them all to use a 7C mouthpiece when their embouchures and individual equipment is so much different? Having a comfortable and balanced setup is going to make the whole trumpet experience more enjoyable. They will have better endurance, will practice more and have more fun.

My son hates doing the "group 8" slurs from the "Earl Irons 27-groups of Exercises", but after I adjusted his mouthpiece gap, it got a whole lot easier. He still hates those slurs, but it's much easier now.

I don't have a lot of money, but will probably seek a trained specialist when the time comes to fit my son with a new mouthpiece. Not only to fit the mouthpiece to his embouchure, but to the horn as well. The previous owner had a lot of work done on the horn--valve alignment, valve venting, enlarged lead-pipe, and receiver gap. My son has a great teacher and of course I will work with him in the whole process.

Congratulations! My son was just accepted to the New Jersey Youth Orchestra. He starts in September!

Sol

So little attention is given to mouthpieces because it would be misplaced. Instead of worrying about mouthpieces or trumpets, that time could be spent on practicing, ear training (solfege), and listening to music. If your son concentrates on becoming a good player and musician (if HE is interested, not if his DAD is interested), then that will be time well spent. Time engaged in mouthpiece research for a developing player is wasted time, since any medium sized Bach mouthpiece will suffice. If it feels comfortable, then a 5C -10 1/2c Bach will be more than good enough. And those go for about 10$ on Ebay. Fitted by a "trained specialist"? That money that you will spend can be better used for lessons, and CDs! Although I'm sure that there are plenty of "trained specialists" out there that would be more than willing to take your dough!

Vulgano Brother

I'm not sure the shoe analogy fits. I've used a bunch of mouthpieces over the years and the only ones that "fit" were the ones I could use and not be in 100% top shape. Most mouthpiece diameters fall within the 16-17mm size, and that difference is, well, tiny! The time spent practicing Iron's group 8 with whatever mouthpiece will be more beneficial, in the long run, than a mouthpiece safari.

I am big on comfort, because I am one of those OCD six hours a day guys, and as far as matching the mouthpiece to the trumpet--that is huge!

Play some crescendos and decresendos with a "neutral" embouchure. If the pitch doesn't change, the mouthpiece matches the horn. If the pitch goes up during the crescendo, the backbore is too large. File down the end of the mouthpiece and find a machinist to turn down the Morse taper on the outside of the mouthpiece shank.

This makes it possible to "dial in" the mouthpiece to the trumpet, but Iron's Group 8 will still need to be practiced.

Almost all of the great players have played on imperfect and unbalanced instruments, and it is the "impulse of will" (quoting Bruno Walter) that has made them great--not the instrument or the mouthpiece.

I think sometimes that playing trumpet is like sculpting marble with a screwdriver--the joy is in the sculpting, not the tools used.

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mattdalton

I'll second that! This is sage advice.

I think too often trumpeters will choose a mouthpiece based on the sound they perceive from behind the bell. It's better to follow VB's advice, finding something that feels right and plays in tune on that instrument- when you have those and add practice "your sound" will emerge.

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Matt Dalton

rowuk

TrumpetDad,
we are not giving little attention to the issue. Your son WAS successful on the 7C and the Greg Black piece. That is why we see no need to change anything immediately. YOU would be guilty of an additional handicap by changing him now. A mouthpiece switch is NOT like shoes or eyeglasses. Those "fit" immediately (they can be objectively measured) and and require no further adjustment from the body. The mouthpiece is a MUCH different situation. Any change here requires adaptation by the entire embouchure to work properly. That is because the mouthpiece and the geometry of the face muscles get used to one another. Muscle memory is not a slam, bam, thank you madam issue! It involves much more preparation to be successful.

I consider this point so critical that the parents of my students are told to check with me before even thinking about new instruments, mouthpieces or anything else. It does not help the kids to get them excited about a change that offers no benefits.

Any recommendations about mouthpiece, bore size, throat or anything else without having given your son 6 months of lessons is not serious.

So, my take is, you pushing the issue is not beneficial to your son. The decision of equipment belongs to a proper teacher that has been working with him and can IDENTIFY the benefits of a change. With the braces freshly removed, your son is in limbo geometrically speaking - now is NOT the time to experiment!

Like any good business decision, you need to know where you are before you try and decide where you want to go. Give your son a chance.

A 7C is NOT a beginners mouthpiece. It is a dependable place to start, assess the situation and decide if a change would offer any benefits. Most decisions to give young players big mouthpieces are not helpful as they then start to use pressure to get the high range. Having kept them on the slightly smaller mouthpiece longer would have offered big benefits in endurance, flexibility and effortless range. Not everyone gets along with a 7C, but that becomes obvious pretty quickly in daily use - not with range, sound or endurance, rather with how comfortable the rim is.

Please get out of the "hardware solves problems" mode. Decisions based on facts solve problems and the facts of the "new" embouchure are 6 months out. I feel VERY strongly about this.

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MJ

Good advice in this thread. Keep the mp the same.

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