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Originally Posted by Cotton  I started playing again recently after a very long layoff. (30+ yrs) I've been playing the standard Bach 7c. I just bought a cheap (probably Chineese) 3c and like it a lot better than the Bach. I'd like to buy a quality equivalent, but don't know how to translate sizes from different makers, or for that matter how sizes compare. Is a 3c larger than a 7c? It seems like it to me. When I was in high school, I played a Bach 5c at the recommendation of the band director, but don't know why. Thanks. |
Ok Cotton, first of all welcome back. You would not believe how easy it is to retrain your chops. Do you have Earl D. Irons book? If not, you need to get it. Once you get that book, work from group one to group four for at least one month. Follow exactly what he says. It teaches professional breath control and with that you will achieve perfect tonal quality.
Before you start practicing in this book you need to put whatever mouthpiece you have on your face and be honest with yourself about how comfortable it makes you feel.
Personally I chose a Bach 1 megatone which was custom made for me with 24k gold plating on the rim and a satin finish on the bore. I cannot explain how much criticism I got from choosing that mouthpiece. I talked with a professor at Texas University and he said that I would never be able to use that Bach 1 megatone mouthpiece.
Well, I cannot really say that I am stubborn for using it because it makes me feel comfortable and I sound great on it. So, just remember to ignore the critics if you want to try a new mouthpiece. Who knows what is happening with your current MP. Maybe it is pinching you or maybe the air is escaping too much from the corners of your mouth. Mostly people tend to change if it hurts and that would be the only reason I would change.
Let me reinforce all of this by saying that it should never hurt to play. I do not care about what situation that you are in. It should never hurt. Think of it this way. If you feel that you are using any effort to play. You are trying too hard. It will only take you about 2 to 3 days of using group 1 through 4 to notice a positive change in your playing. After about 2weeks you should notice how easy it is to slide from note to note because whether you knew it or not, your brain has figured out the slotting in your instrument to a T.
As time passes you will notice even greater improvement such as a more vibrant tone. There will be no trouble playing soft. Your articulation will be better just because you are hitting the bull’s-eye by now. Even if you have not tongued a note in 30yrs you will be able to now because your embouchure will be in such perfect alignment that articulating will be as simple as saying hello to your neighbor.
The next important thing to focus on is that you must rest just as much as you play. This needs to be embedded into your brain. This will take your endurance to higher levels that you never may have imagined. Remember that if you feel the slightest bit of pain you need to rest because it is wrong.
A good example would be the beat rest. Play long tones for 8 beats and rest for 8 beats. This means to remove the trumpet from your face during rest. Another type of rest would be a day off.
A good time to take a day off is when you notice your lips may have an uncontrollable quiver (shake) when playing. This means that your facial muscles that are required to form your embouchure are exhausted. Just like any other muscle that gets worked out, it needs rest to recover from all of the tearing.
Nine times out of ten a sure sign of too much playing is when you notice yourself applying pressure. When pressure is applied, you essentially cut off your blood circulation which basically kills the muscle fibers because they cannot breathe.
Flexibility becomes an issue as well. Try to tongue an arpeggio and take a note to yourself about how much effort you needed to use to complete it. I guess the closest thing that I can think of right now would be a piston locking up inside of your car engine due to excess gunk. It doesn’t move right?
Another visualization that I like to think about is a laser. Imagine that you have a laser pen that is attached to a perfect foundation and swivel that is expertly balanced. A laser that would never miss its target if you move it slow enough. That is what your air stream should be eventually.
Lastly, make sure that your tongue is low when playing. It will be much easier to stay in tune and with that there is the benifit of hitting the sweet spot. Get an electric piano if you can. It doesn't have to be expensive. It really helps tonal quality.
I live by this Earl D. Irons book whenever someone would like to make a mouthpiece change or just to improve playing overall.