paultandberg

I just purchased a Yamaha 8335 trumpet for my ten-year-old, first-year trumpet playing kid. (Gus' old Bach developed more valve issues. I may have gone overboard with the 8335, but he has really progressed and is developing into an impressive player with a strong tone, and, well, I'm proud of him, and, well, maybe I went a little overboard.)

My concern: Gus has been using a Bach 7C mouthpiece, which seems to be the nearly universally recommended mouthpiece for a developing student player. The 8335 came with a Yamaha 16C4 mouthpiece, which is described as a near equivalent to a Bach 1 1/2 C).



My question: Is the Yamaha 16C4 mouthpiece (Bach 1 1/2 C) perhaps too large a diameter mouthpiece for a developing kid? Should I have Gus use a 7C-type, or 5C, instead?

Or should I not worry about it and just let Gus play the horn as is and see what happens?

Gus has been playing for a year. He is a strong blower with (I think) impressive power and clear tone. But he is also a developing ten-year-old that is just starting to expand his range past high D.

I played trumpet in high school, but I never payed any attention to mouthpieces. Our school's band teacher is a woodwind person and is familiar only with 7C, 5C, 3C. I have read about mouthpieces online, but that is a bit of a swamp that is easy to get lost in.

I have the old 7C mouthpiece. I also have a Bach 5C and a 3C. And now I have a Yamaha 16C4 that came with the Zeno (for a good reason ????)

Do I have Gus give the 16C4 an extended try and see what happens?

Do I let Gus pick whichever mouthpiece he likes best?

Or do I have him use a 7C ( or 5C, or 3C) for another couple years. And then introduce some options, including the 8335's stock mouthpiece when he is a veteran 15-year-old ;) ?


Thanks,

Paul

Eeviac

Sounds like you have enough MP's to try.....

When I was about 14, my band teacher put me on a 7C just like everyone starts with, I was about the size of your 10-year-old probably due to lack of food. Very strong for my size (had to be!) and had no problem blowing a nice long, strong note. I never went much of anywhere with it because we didn't have money for band, but it seems to me a "generic" or "basic" MP, why not?

My trumpet now has a 7C Bach, and my cornet has the Olds 3C that came with it, and frankly I can't tell the difference, they both work Ummm.... ok ... improving...!

Grizzle

Forget about mouthpieces until he's got at least 3 or 4 years in. As good as I'm sure he is, it's just not that important to burden his developing face with different "feels." Let the chops develop around one shape.

I think a mouthpiece safari is a bad idea for almost everyone, especially a kid. 7c early on is fine, maybe to a 5c or 3c through HS, and when they are near-pro in college, then maybe--MAYBE--try some other things. But a MP isn't going to help or hurt a 10 year old, unless he's trying a bunch of different ones. Then it's only going to hurt.

Pedal C

Does he have a private teacher? He or she would be best able to answer if it's time to more to something larger (and that's a fairly large change in size). Obviously I havn't heard him play, but it sounds like he's having some pretty good success on the 7C. Unless the teacher thinks moving to such a large mouthpiece is a good idea right now, I'd probably stay on the safe side and keep the 7C for now. If it ain't broke...

camelbrass

Paul,

Good choice with the Xeno. That may even be the last trumpet you buy so the cost over the years will be negligible.

I agree with the general sentiment. If he is doing well on the 7C leave it alone. Perhaps his teacher will recommend a change when he is a bit older so hold on to those other mouthpieces.

Regards,


Trevor

paultandberg

Thanks for posts.

To be clear: I am not on a mouthpiece safari. I do not want to be thinking about mouthpieces. The advice to stick with a good, basic mouthpiece is advice that makes good sense to me, and I will follow it.

But I bought Gus a new horn, a Yamaha 8335. And it came with a stock Yamaha mouthpiece, a 16C4, which is the mouthpiece Yamaha apparently wants to pair up with the horn. Yamaha seems to pair up all their trumpets with specific mouthpieces.

My question is, do I have my ten-year-old son use the mouthpiece the horn came with (the equivalent of a Bach 1 1/2 C) or have him continue to use the Bach 7C from his old horn (or use a 5C or 3C I can get from the school, on the theory they might be a nice transition size).

I did not seek this dilemma. Nor do I want to encourage Gus to be a ten-year-old gear head. But I do find myself with a choice of four mouthpieces and no private trumpet teacher (and no availability of one until maybe this summer. If we are lucky.)

So far, what I am reading is inclining me towards pulling out the Yamaha 16C4 and sticking Gus' old 7C in the case. I have noted that Yamaha puts smaller mouthpieces in their student horns.

Thanks,
Paul

paultandberg

Hi Trevor,

(I remember your nice answer from last time)

Looks like sticking with the 7C is the ticket for Gus. Thanks for the good help.

I was playing the horn, and I liked the 3C and the 16C4. But, even with AB-ing, it could get confusing, and without AB-ing, I wouldn't have any idea which mouthpiece I was using. I might have to get myself a horn. I have been playing with the kids, and it is starting to go pretty good for me ;)

So, what's the deal with these Monettes? They any good?


;)
Paul

camelbrass

Paul,

It''s not surprising you like the 3C. Adults are physiologically different than 10 year olds and can focus the sound in a larger mouthpiece better than a young one can. To be honest in terms of size there isn't a lot of difference between a 3C and 1 1/2C so AB ing them can be difficult to the uninitiated.

Get yourself a horn. It would be cool to be able to do the Vivaldi Concerto for Two trumpets with your son for his graduation. Monette? Why not? Just get your chops really, really together first and then sell your first born.

Regards,


Trevor

bigtiny

I would keep him on the 7c for at least 3-4 years. It's a medium everything mouthpiece, and trying to work into something larger is just liable to hurt him anyway. The main benefit for changing mouthpieces as one develops is to improve one's sound. He's not going to even begin to develop a decent sound for a few years anyway. The 1 1/2 is a VERY big mouthpiece. A seasoned player can really get a broader, bigger sound by moving to a mouthpiece this size, but even most seasoned pros would need a substantial period to really get comfortable with this size mouthpiece.

bigtiny

davidmazon

From what I have noticed with my students: We start with a 7c. Once the breathing is free and correct, I listen for the sound difference between a "right above the staff" g and the low c below the staff. If the tone quality is the same(most of the time it is not..most younger players sound's will change to a pinch which means the breathing is incorrect) I then listen for ...its hard to describe...the "stuffiness" sound(related to a voice its almost like when you tighten your abs and try to talk). If it is there we try some bigger pieces, if not we don't:). I have seen some students not need to change to a bigger piece(unfortunately) and some that really had a hold of breathing need bigger pieces very quickly.
My personal opinion of a 5c mouthpiece: should not be played by beginners. Pretty difficult piece(flat rim, sharper bite, more cup shaped).
The mpc sequences for students that I have found work the best are:
7C, 3C, 1.25C (only for college players do we start messing with throats and backbores unless the student is an absolute monster)
5C, 5B, 3C, 1.5C
You can insert yamaha equivalents as needed! The 16C4 GP is a great mouthpiece but it is more important for the student to learn how to fill the mpcs with the correct amount of air before messing around with bigger sizes. Breathing is the most important thing. I myself am a mpc crazed nut but the correct mouthpiece for a developing student is such an important issue it must be addressed with the knowledge of a competent teacher who's best interest is developing a great trumpet player (there are some nuts in Columbus Ohio who start kids on 14a4as..yikes).
Good luck and hope my opinions help!