[TPIN] Begging student mouthpiece pack (was Big or Small)

[Brendan Crise]

Excellent point!  Maybe I should put together a package for band directors working with beginning trumpet players that includes varios sizes of mouthpieces.  The students can try all of them out and working with the director determine what is best for them as far as tone, range, comfort, intonation etc.  I'm wondering why this hasn't been done before, or if it has, hasn't been more widely used.  For those who teach beginning students, is this something you would use?  How many pieces should be included? What sizes should be included?  
I'm sure the students parents don't want to spend hundreds of dollars finding the right mouthpiece, so this 'pack' would make it possible for the student to try out many pieces without actually buying them. 

Brendan Crise
Trade Show Coordinator
Public Relations/ Artist Relations
Woodwind and Brasswind
1-800-348-5003 ext. 2360



-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu on behalf of thomas jenkins
Sent: Thu 6/14/2007 5:21 PM
To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: [TPIN] RE: Big or Small
 
No one size fits all!  Teachers who put all of their players on the  
same size mouthpiece are doing them a great injustice.  Much  
attrition among young trumpet players is the direct result of ill- 
fitting mouthpieces.  Comfort should be the first  criterion.  Then  
consider basic generalizations:  shallow cups = easier upper register  
and brighter timbre; deep cups = easier low register and darker  
timbre.  Confirmation of the teeth and lips, bite, oral cavity  
volume, thickness and length of tongue are all physical  
characteristics that come into play in fitting a
mouthpiece to a student.
More mature players should consider what they want to hear coming out  
of the bell of the horn.  They should also realize that the  
generalizations mentioned above are just that...generalizations!   
Charley Davis plays on a 3C with some alteration.  Allen Vizzutti  
plays on a relatively small mouthpiece.  Both artists have great  
sound in all ranges.
Best advice:  Consult an expert like the Bob Reeves team on the west  
coast.  They will consult with you by telephone and the price is right.
Tom Jenkins



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