Young Trumpeter

Hi i'm in high school and i play in the jazz band at school. the director told me it might be time i look into jazz mouthpieces, or any mouthpiece that can help with high notes and lead parts. i'm not very experienced in mouthpieces (or equipment in general) and i'm not sure what's out there and what i should be trying out and looking for. right now i play a bach 5C. any suggestions? Thanks.

cornetguy

for a hs student i would stick with the 5c and practice building range, slowly, carefully and intellegently. Colin, Stamp, Vizzutti are all good and the charateristic studies in Arban to build endurance. In my experience best not to have hs players going above a high c much if at all, when they do the sound tends to get harsh and edgy in all registers. always listen to the sound keep the same focus and control that one has in the mid-range.

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bandman

I've been teaching for almost 30-years and I'll give you my opinion on switching pieces as a HS student for special events or types of music -- DON'T DO IT.

How do you learn to play high notes for lead playing? You take out your 5C or 3C and you build you chops in a slow organized manner. You extend your range by playing scales and lip flex exercises. You build your upper register by playing a lot in the lower register, by increasing the strength of your chops in general (for all ranges).

I remember when I was your age that I wanted range all at once. I have students now whom I wish I could just put on a special mouthpiece and all of a sudden they would be able to play 5-6 notes higher without giving up any tone or accuracy on the total register.

Tell your teacher that instead of taking time to look for a new mouthpiece that you are going to increase your practice time by 10% and use that time to build your chops so that you can be a legit lead guy for a long time to come.

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Foxytrpt

I agree! (though I never practiced it)

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Dave

I'll split the middle. I am not a believer in finding a cheater mouthpiece to play high notes on...for a typical HS student, that can be a disaster. However, I agree that there is a different sound required of a lead player from what is desirable in a concert band. You need something a little brighter. The best way to find that is through working with a trumpet teacher and a store with several choices. If you keep the rim diameter close to the 5C you are playing on, and get a slightly shallower mpc, with a smoother rim, you may find just what you are seeking.

bandman

I'll stand by my post, but add something to it that kind of agrees with what you said.

My teachers in high school were great players. Both of them said that if I couldn't play it on my regular mouthpiece I couldn't play it at all. They refused to "allow" me to use a "lead piece".

My teacher in college was a NTSU graduate. He could play his tailend off (and still can). I'll never be a lead player if I need a lead piece to play the part. When I started playing the part well he was the person who bought me my first lead piece -- a Schilke 14A4A -- which he said would help me make it through long gigs and really hard rehearsals.

He also took that piece away from me when he found out that I was using it in the marching band, and gave it back to me when I deserved it again!

I respected all of my teachers enough to never go get a piece without their permission. I had placed them in charge of guiding my progress as a trumpet player, and to go behind their back would have been an act of disrespect. I could have never gone into my next lesson and looked them in the eye if I had lied to them.

I say ask your TRUMPET teacher, not your band director, to help you with this decision. If you are playing lead without a private trumpet teacher then I bet you are a very talented young musician -- it's time to get that private teacher to guide you in becoming an even better musician.

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wiseone2

I agree with Bandman. Without seeing and hearing the player I would hesitate giving ANY advice for equipment change. His trumpet teacher will know what's best.
Personally I don't change mouthpieces for lead playing.......that works for me.
We do what we must to achieve the desired results.
Wilmer

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40cal

In high school I used a Bach 3C for all my playing, including lead playing in the jazz band until we had a student teacher who gave me a Tottle 7E or something like that.....I think I would have been better off at the time sticking with what was working for me.

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Wilmer,

What mouthpiece do you use?
Is this the same one you used when you played full time with the symphony?