GoLdeNsKaNs

hey i am going to get a new mouthpiece and was just wondering what mouthpiece would be good for marching band and high notes

Dave Mickley

check with your private teacher and he/she can help - - if you don't have a private teacher the best thing to do is just keep practicing and the 7c is a good mouthpiece unless you are having issues. there is no "magic" high note mouthpiece, we all have searched for it and the dern thing keeps hiding from all of us. Dave

rowuk

GoLdeNsKaNs,
what kind of horn are you playing on now? How long have you been playing? What kind of range do you have now? The most important question: How much do you really practice every day?

A 7C mouthpiece IS a very good high note and marching band mouthpiece. Switching to something else requires additional practice (that would also help your 7C playing).

The basic rule of thumb is:
If you practice regularly, your range stays the same on every mouthpiece! Your endurance goes up when the mouthpiece and horn match the job that you are trying to do. When marching, a smaller mouthpiece really doesn't help much because you jiggle around some when moving. That means you apply more pressure to keep your embouchure placed. A bigger mouthpiece makes marching a bit easier, but requires a lot more practice to build up endurance especially in the upper range.

Without hearing you play, it is impossible for me to figure out what you should do next. My students do not change hardware (mouthpieces) unless their software (breathing) is in order. I personally ALWAYS start there first.

oldlou

I have no choice but to agree with Rowuk. In my case as primarily a cornetist, my mouthpiece of choice on my Getzen Super DeLuxe cornet is a Bach 6, no letter. If the chart calls for anything above the C above the staff I use a Bach 7C. The combination of that particular horn and the Bach 7C is for me, almost magic. A close friend and fellow trumpeter came over yesterday evening to show me his new Lawler trumpet and to hear me play it. My range with a 7C was less than spectacular, but, more than adequate for the charts that I am asked to play. When I switched to my little Getzen he was amazed to hear me soar way up there with what he called fantastic tone. Perhaps it is just because I am very familiar with that little horn, or, that the combination of horn to mouthpiece is better for my particular emboushure. Whatever, the match of horn to mouthpiece to your playing style is what makes a trumpet/cornet sing in all registers. I guess that I am lucky to have fallen upon a combination that works for me. I did find a mouthpiece in my collection that works for me with 'most' trumpets. In my case, it is a French made Selmer 3S.


OLDLOU>>

Vulgano Brother

A mouthpiece in the 5 to 7 (Bach) range is of moderate size, and pretty good for all styles of play. If you are looking for easier high notes and a good sound, the Curry "Z" cups are an excellent choice. Often the mouthpieces that are sold to make high notes easier sound pretty ugly unless played by players so good they don't really need them!

Remember that the key to good, loud high playing is projection (shooting an intense, focused sound away from the instrument), rather than what we as players call "loud." Playing "fat" and "loud" in this manner (especially outdoors) can quickly breed some bad habits. A good teacher is of vital importance as we expand what is our personal playing extremes. Have fun!

OdieLopez3

Yeah there really is no High Note mouthpiece that'll do the job for you. It is something that should come naturally out of your horn with a mouthpiece that makes you feel comfortable to play in that high range with no strain or struggle whatsoever. Most of the time when you see professional lead player sometimes you see them switch using two mouthpieces to perform. Thats what they feel comfortable using and it took them time to develop such technique so be carefull on how you try to switch or try other mouthpieces. Try to buzz in it first, then work on some scales and even chromatic scale to see how it feels. If you feel your pushing then stop and just leave it alone. I like what rowuk has to say on this topic. I agree with him, because in reality it does require additional practice and depending on how much you practice. Take everything a step by a time dont rush into these things.

Richard Oliver

Really good posts one and all!