[TPIN] Starting a beginner on a Cornet vs Trumpet - use of cornet - section blending

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

This has been an interesting thread to me, as I love playing cornet, and I  
am sort of a fanatic about cornets playing parts that say CORNET.  I have  told 
many band directors who make their students play all the same Bach horns  
with all the same big Bach mouthpieces, that they will never have the real sound  
that they are looking for until they get a section of cornets.  I tell them  
in no uncertain terms, that next time they raise WAY too much money for 
marching  band uniforms, they should take some of that money and get cornets for the 
 band.  I don't care how big a trumpet mouthpiece you use, it will never be  
as mellow and dark as a cornet sound.
That being said, I have to agree with all the people who have stated that  
for beginners, it makes no difference.  The beginning student is not nearly  
sophisticated enough to worry about what the horn sounds like.  It is best  that 
they have a good reliable instrument, whichever it might be. And - to  have 
good instruction.  I think in most cases, the student playing a cornet  might be 
using a school loaner or a rental instrument, so that when they decide  to 
really continue, they can them purchase a Bb trumpet, which will become their  
main instrument, unless they become a symphony player (already discussed in 
this  thread).  For very small kids, a cornet might even be preferable.
My gut feeling is NOT to get them a pocket trumpet.  Most aren't that  good, 
and the "blow" really is different.
Another feeling of mine is that when it is time to get into jazz band in  
middle school or high school, that a TRUMPET is used.  A cornet will not  cut 
enough to help the section blend.
Speaking of blending in a section, in some discussions after the TRPTS  
concert at ITG, there was some joking about that misplaced idea of similar horns  
and mouthpieces being needed to blend properly, as some misguided high school  
band directors seem to feel.  The horns in our section were Yamaha, Getzen,  
Benge and Edwards.  Not only were the trumpets very dissimilar, the  
mouthpieces were also not alike in any way.
I think anyone who heard the concert will attest that the blend we got was  
pretty phenomenal.  Just goes to show that LISTENING is more important to  
blend, than anything to do with horns or mouthpieces.
Mike Vax



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