[TPIN] Size does matter even for kids

[Glenn Bengry]

Maties,
 
For young students
 
     Almost to a T, every time I move a YOUNG KID(and older students as well, I coach a couple guys in their 60's.  One switched to a 3C from a smaller one and is ecstatic about the excellent results and improvement)to a LARGR mouthpiece ,they play more freely, are more accurate, have a nicer sound,which thrills thm to death, have freedom for their chops to vibrate and to get used to that feeling, have more ability and room to move more air which we all know is one of the very most important fundamentals in developing, have better high notes AND better low notes
 
Mind you this is for young students.  As Andy very clearly stated, he helps kids make adjustments to suit their abilities, results, direction of their interests and musical needs as they get older.  
 
I talked to the LEAD PLAYER for the WOODY HERMAN band a few years ago asking about his equipment.  He was a Modell studnt.  He said,  "I use the LARGEST MOUTHPIECE that I possibly can to do the particula gig.
 
    Nobody is attacking small mouthpieces here Mike.  And nobody said guys that end up playing small pieces professionally don't sound great.  That's another whole topic which we've talked about recntly already.
 
     Personnaly, the best sounding lead guys I've heard play big pieces.  There is so much sound, depth, density, full spectrum of frequencies, lots of guts and real real clarity and sparkle on top without being edgy.  It blends as well as soars, tops off a band, and doesn't have to "cut" through.  Its big nough to hold the whole ensemble inside the sound and to top it all off.  It can also BURY the group when calld for.
 
    I always bring up Byron Stripling as the poster boy for this school of playing.  I've NEVER heard a sound like that in my life.  As great as the other guys are, Byron's sound is the best hands down. All these things really become more perceivable live.  Recordings only capture 25-30 % of the depth and quality of sound.
 
   this is not an indictment of guys who play smaller, but my opinion(which is sometimes infallible.  hehhehe That's a joke in case you havn't had your coffee yet)
 
   If you want to sue me, my address is 31600 West 9 mil Rd ............................hehehe
 
 
Have a great day on the horn.  Especially all you large mouthpiece guys.  Remember,
 
SIZE DOES MATTER.
 
glenn, the bigger the better, bengry:)
 
 
 
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Dave:> I started my son on the cornet with a 7B. After the first month, I could> see he was having trouble keeping his lips in the mouthpiece, and was> uncomfortable playing (and getting a raspy sound). After switching him to a> 1C, things straightened out. He plays easily and claims to "love" the> bigger mouthpiece. He's now 11 (but the switch was done when he was 9!)> > With regard to the origional topic - Switching to smaller equipment after> having played larger equipment, for the purpose of playing commercial stuff:> I've heard a lot of good players say they continue to practice on larger> equipment, but switch off to smaller, brighter mouthpiece for commercial> playing. > > For me, I stick with my Bach 7E for the most part (mostly jazz & rock), but> occassionally practice on a 7B, 7C or 1 1/2 C to "regroup".> Mike:> Well, I would have to completely disagree with this. Young people do not> have the lip size, muscle development or any thing else to start on a 1 1/2> C.  Talk about possible discouragement?  I also suppose you wouldn't let one> of your students play a "real" lead trumpet mouthpiece, even if their life's> desire was to play like Wayne Bergeron or Buddy Childers, or Bill Chase?> I know that the big mouthpiece "camp" looms large on this list, but there> ARE those of us who play everything on a smaller mouthpiece.  Those> mouthpieces are NOT "screamers" or "cheaters," but the proper tools for the> jobs that we do.  And - as I have said before on this list, there are those> of us who actually do ALL of our playing on one mouthpiece, and it happens> to be towards the smaller end of things.  This is not wrong, it is just> different.  Granted that most of us who do this are commercial players, not> orchestral players. 
 
 
 
 But if one of you has a student whose desire is to play> the more commercial end of music and you won't even let them try a smaller> mouthpiece because it will "hurt their sound, or endurance, or flexibility,> or whatever," then you are doing them a disservice.  As I have stated> before, some of the most glorious trumpet sounds I have ever heard were> performed on "small" equipment.> Rant over.> Mike Vax> > Andy:> A wise player once said to me that on trumpet it takes MORE lip control,> xperience and being in shape to play on a small mouthpiece than a larger> ne. You've got a (admittedly slightly) smaller cup and rim to put very> mall muscle control into: when he was out of form, he used a larger mpc to> ood result.> This is why ALL my starter students get a 1 1/2C mouthpiece to play on. The> ajority - by far - have fewer issues with their production than those who> rrive after a few years of playing on the usual 7C or Yamaha equivalent.> More experienced students use different mpcs. I think my best student is> sing a 3C/3E depending on lead playing / piccolo / Bb / C.> cheers> Andy> >