Pedal C

As a 7th grader, probably having played for one or two years, it's too early to know if the 7C is right or wrong for you. If playing above the staff is difficult, you probably are still progressing in terms of breathing and embouchure so the equipment (within reason) is largly irrelevant. A 7C may not the right choice for the rest of your life, and it may not be right in a couple years when you've gain a better command of the upper register, but you really can't tell now.

As for the relative quality of the 7C in general, Bud Herseth used a 7C his first few years in the Chicago Symphony. If you don't know who he is, find out! One of the best orchestral trumpet players ever.

And comparing the 7C to other Bach mouthpieces can be tough because they've ALL varied over the years. I have a Mt Vernon 7C that feels like a 1C and a couple newer ones that aren't even the same as each other.

From the way you've described your present ability, using a smaller or shallower mouthpiece as a crutch to hit high notes is only going to slow down your ultimate development. For now, start working on your breathing (search the TM forum...lots of good breathing advice recently) and playing without tension in the chest and shoulders. If you have a good private teacher, they should be able to get your funamentals happening so the upper register will eventually be there for you!

Good Luck!

Jason.

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"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs