mouthpieces and range

trumpetnick · 03-24-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowuk

If you think a mouthpiece is going to help your range one bit, I would think again. Unless your present choice is miserable (not the case with the Yamaha - it is good - not too big or small!), another mouthpiece will NOT help add one tone to your range.
Range is a function of lip mass and density to air pressure. That means, you need to get your chops, body use and breathing together to play higher. Mouthpieces are interesting but generally distract from the real issue - if you can't play as high as you want to, then you are doing something physically wrong.
Posts like this (and the comical recommendations for specific mouthpieces) just prove that too many people are not willing to accept the fact that you have to pay your dues!!
HARDWARE IS NEVER THE ANSWER - it is the software between your ears, the dedication to the cause and the hard intelligent work that will give you results. If your trumpet teacher is not a specialist for high notes, then you need to find someone that is - if that is your goal.

Tony,

This comment on another mouthpiece related thread made me think...
Wait a little a bit! What the hell are so called "screamer" or "lead" mouthpieces are made for? Myself, I am not very deep into the screaming business and never did too much of big band playing, I am an orchestral player who plays jazz sometimes. Sure Robin made a good point there about what is physically happening when we try to play in the extreme high register. But I have always thought that a shallower mouthpiece should add couple of notes in the high register and make high playing easier even for people like Maynard...Any thoughts?

kadleck · 03-24-2007, 11:31 PM

My range is basically the same on my two mouthpieces (Bach 5B and Monette BL5M). HOWEVER, what changes is the sound and the EASE of playing in the upper register. If I were playing lead in a big band I could last for about 5 minutes on a 5B. Plus the sound wouldn't cut as much as I'd like. What's that (now) famous (and overused) line ... "you don't hammer a nail with a banana, right"? I need something smaller. Not for range, but for sound and economy.

Byron Stripling is one of my favorites to play with. He plays a Bach 1C. He gets the sound he needs and can play all day long. He's a big guy. I'm a short guy with bad posture and a beer gut. I need help!

Everyone is different, but I generally agree with what Rowuk said.

Tony

Tootsall · 03-24-2007, 11:47 PM

Tony's answer pretty much echoes what I once heard in a master class being given by a Dr. Ed Lewis (I believe he got his DMA in New York). He was about 65 or so at the time and could play up into the doubles on any horn and with any mouthpiece he was given (from a little Schilke 11A up to a Bach 1). His explanation was that different mouthpieces just made different tasks easier and provided the different "accents" required (symphonic, big band lead, jazz, etc.)

rowuk · 03-30-2007, 10:42 AM

Mouthpiece size has never added one note to my range. Here are a couple combinations from the last 30 years:
Bach 1 1/2C / 10 1/2E, Schilke 18 / 14a4a, Monette B2 / BL / B4L.
As Tony said, the sound and effort changes dramatically. That is the reason for using the correct tool for the job!

03-24-2007, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
kadleck Artist in Residence Piano User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: new york Posts: 428	Re: mouthpieces and range My range is basically the same on my two mouthpieces (Bach 5B and Monette BL5M). HOWEVER, what changes is the sound and the EASE of playing in the upper register. If I were playing lead in a big band I could last for about 5 minutes on a 5B. Plus the sound wouldn't cut as much as I'd like. What's that (now) famous (and overused) line ... "you don't hammer a nail with a banana, right"? I need something smaller. Not for range, but for sound and economy. Byron Stripling is one of my favorites to play with. He plays a Bach 1C. He gets the sound he needs and can play all day long. He's a big guy. I'm a short guy with bad posture and a beer gut. I need help! Everyone is different, but I generally agree with what Rowuk said. Tony

03-24-2007, 11:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tootsall Fortissimo User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yee HAW! Posts: 4,641	Re: mouthpieces and range Tony's answer pretty much echoes what I once heard in a master class being given by a Dr. Ed Lewis (I believe he got his DMA in New York). He was about 65 or so at the time and could play up into the doubles on any horn and with any mouthpiece he was given (from a little Schilke 11A up to a Bach 1). His explanation was that different mouthpieces just made different tasks easier and provided the different "accents" required (symphonic, big band lead, jazz, etc.)

03-30-2007, 10:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
rowuk Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Brand: Nat, Piston, Rotary Posts: 3,506	Re: mouthpieces and range Mouthpiece size has never added one note to my range. Here are a couple combinations from the last 30 years: Bach 1 1/2C / 10 1/2E, Schilke 18 / 14a4a, Monette B2 / BL / B4L. As Tony said, the sound and effort changes dramatically. That is the reason for using the correct tool for the job!
	__________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

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