| Re: Bright? Bad?
I am a High School Band director and was told all through high school I had to bright of a sound!!! For years I tried to darken it up, using giant mouthpieces and playing horns I didnt like for certain bands. While it is true you want a rich deep sound in the band, dont worry about it so much it controls you. Bright is not bad, but you have to be able to blend. It impossible to know what your director is hearing, so ask them.
Your sound can be dictated by the mouthpiece or the horn, just because its a 43 doesnt mean it sounds bright. (I have a friend who sounds like a flugel if he plays a Bach since he has such naturally dark sound)
Talk to your band director one-on-one sometime and ask them what they want to hear. Hopefully they have enough trumpet knowledge to help you out. If they say they want a darker sound ask them for specifics, its nice to have a student who wants to improve. Before throwing out your horn try another mouthpiece combination. Something with a "B" cup and the same rim you are playing.
Good luck. |