[TPIN] What IS competent?

[Olaf Brattegaard]

Avoid "diciples", they don't give you sensible advises (not competent?).
One more thing, "the best performers (degree or no degree) are seldom
the best teachers".

When it comes to mouthpieces, I rather prefer Bobby Shew's approach
(even if he is an excellent performer):
Find the rim (diameter, width, shape, bite, etc.) you are most
comfortable with, and stick to it.
Experiment (start with one size up/down) with the other parameters (cup,
throat, backbore, etc.) to suit the genre you are playing.

Go for the sound (not a "crutch")!
The general rule is that a smaller cup volume gives a brighter sound
(lead playing?), and a larger cup volume gives a darker sound (classical
playing?).
Avoid the extremes (1C?).
The mouthpiece as a whole is the matching element between the player and
the horn.

Don't make it more complicated than it is.

Good luck!

Regards,
Olaf in Oslo 
 



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:48:27 +0000
From: trumpeterdave at comcast.net
Subject: [TPIN] What IS competent?
To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Message-ID:
	
<010220081848.17232.477BDC7B000EB7B1000043502200762302040407090C03040B at c
omcast.net>
	

Mike Vax said:

"Any change or addition of another mouthpiece, especially for a 
young person, should be done with the help of a competent teacher and
not just 
because somebody on a list like this says so."

Ah, there's the rub: "competent"

Who/How defines "competent" ? 

I have been struggling for about 9 months with 
selecting a mp for lead playing.  My teacher  is a fabulous player, and,
more 
importantly, a tremendous teacher--a 
serious student of trumpet playing. (He is a Gary Radke disciple) BUT-I
just 
flat out didn't like the mp he set me with. (A GR)
I  could not get air through air through it.
I gave it a 2 month committed tryout. Played ONLY the GR. Didn't even
THINK 
about
going back.  Until it occurred to me--"Just for kicks, I will try my old
1C just 
once..."
Voila, I was back in business blowing freely again.  (Still looking for
a little 
help with the high range, though!)

So the moral of the story is, well, I don't know what the moral of the
story is.  
Whatever works? Listen to yourself? Don't worry about it? Try everyting
in sight?