TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - Some problems of an eighth grade trumpeter I noticed

MGTrumpet · 04-16-2005, 03:39 AM

Manny,

About a month ago, the community band I play in did a series of rehearsals and a concert with a middle school band in a western suburb of Minneapolis.

I was sitting next to an eighth grade trumpet player and noticed one problem right away. He was playing a Bach Strad and had the tuning slide out about an inch and a half (at least). I didn't say anything because I didn't feel it was my place and partly because I suspected he was taking lessons from someone.

After the second rehearsal, I thought perhaps he was playing on a Stork mouthpiece. Before the concert, I asked him about the mouthpiece and he said it was a Stork. As I looked at his horn it seemed the mouthpiece was out too far. I asked if I could look at his horn and when I measured the gap, it had to have been at least a quarter inch (maybe a little more). There was even a ring around the mouthpiece where it had obviously sat in another horn (with an eighth inch gap).

A week later I was talking to his band director about the kid and the director said the kid had been having lots of problems with inconsistent tone and pitch.

In my opinion, there are at least two things wrong with his setup that could account for those problems. To me, it seems the kid is working with some handicaps that just shouldn't be there.

I told his director I'd solicit your expert advice.

Thanks (especially for doing this wonderful forum!)

04-16-2005, 03:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
MGTrumpet New Friend Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maple Grove, MN Posts: 26	Some problems of an eighth grade trumpeter I noticed Manny, About a month ago, the community band I play in did a series of rehearsals and a concert with a middle school band in a western suburb of Minneapolis. I was sitting next to an eighth grade trumpet player and noticed one problem right away. He was playing a Bach Strad and had the tuning slide out about an inch and a half (at least). I didn't say anything because I didn't feel it was my place and partly because I suspected he was taking lessons from someone. After the second rehearsal, I thought perhaps he was playing on a Stork mouthpiece. Before the concert, I asked him about the mouthpiece and he said it was a Stork. As I looked at his horn it seemed the mouthpiece was out too far. I asked if I could look at his horn and when I measured the gap, it had to have been at least a quarter inch (maybe a little more). There was even a ring around the mouthpiece where it had obviously sat in another horn (with an eighth inch gap). A week later I was talking to his band director about the kid and the director said the kid had been having lots of problems with inconsistent tone and pitch. In my opinion, there are at least two things wrong with his setup that could account for those problems. To me, it seems the kid is working with some handicaps that just shouldn't be there. I told his director I'd solicit your expert advice. Thanks (especially for doing this wonderful forum!)