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Create an accountBRASS | The ultimate guide on how to try a new mouthpiece
5 things to verify BEFORE you change your mouthpiece
1. Make sure your current equipment is adequate
A very bad instrument is often accompanied by a very bad mouthpiece. Sometimes changing your mouthpiece will inevitably delay the fact that you need to change your instrument.
2. Make sure your equipment is clean
A lot of issues would be solved by an adequate cleaning of the mouthpiece and the instrument. Same goes for regular maintenance, a little visit to our repair shop might be all you need.
3. Identify« why» you need this change
Can you identify why you need to change your mouthpiece? Does the one you currently use provides too much resistance, doesn't facilitate the playing in extreme register, or is simply uncomfortable?
4. Try to leave preconceived ideas at the door
If you want to sound like Maynard Ferguson or Winton Marsalis, a new mouthpiece is not the solution to your problems. You need to develop yourself as a musician with adequate equipment (and a lot of practice) before you can dream of joining the legendary players of your instrument.
Tip : Get familiar with these technical mouthpiece terms.They will help you understand and request a mouthpiece that fits your needs.
5. Prioritize a polyvalent mouthpiece
Unless you are looking for a very specific mouthpiece (to play a specific excerpt or musical style) it's important that you find a polyvalent mouthpiece that can allow you to progress and play at your best. Of course, no mouthpiece is the Holy Grail but a polyvalent mouthpiece that helps you fight your natural flaws is as close as you will get.
To help fight your natural flaws, you will need to take time to identify them.
Is high register something you struggle with? A mouthpiece that has a small cup will help you attain a high register easier and a bright tone. However, it will restrain your chops in the lower register and you might remark that your sound in the mid and low register is somewhat impoverished. Polyvalence is the key word here, and jumping to an extreme too fast will not get you the results you seek long-term.
6 steps to follow while you are trying new mouthpieces
1.Warm-up - take time to warm up on your own equipment, or if it's not possible on very similar equipment (same make and model). Twigg Musique can provide you with an instrument and a (depending on availability) if you can't bring your own.
2.Create your strategy - use your natural flaws at your instrument and those of your current mouthpiece to orient your search.
For example
- If the problem is an excessive resistance in the mid register, you can try a scale in this register with a crescendo to help you find which mouthpiece helps you with this issue.
Tip : Note your observations and do not hesitate to record yourself with your phone to reflect on this choice at home.
Tip : Try to play certain passages that you know very well and see if you have more ease and a better sound.
3. Do not get to the extremes too fast!
Start by trying with "equivalences" of your own mouthpiece. Sometimes a similar mouthpiece in another brand or with a different rim might be all you need. You would be shocked to see how a simple change in the cup size, rim, throat, etc. in your current mouthpiece can provide immediate positive results.
4. Slowly move away from your current equipment
For example, a trumpet player on a 7C (or Yamaha 11b4) that finds their playing too restrain with excessive resistance might discover a lot of freedom when they try a 1.5C large mouthpiece) for the first time. The volume will be immense, the low range will be round and powerful, but, the articulation going up the register will crumble due to the lack of support, same goes for the pitch and the high range that will be more and more difficult.
The problem is almost inevitable... a large jump in the size of mouthpiece without the gradual practice will most likely result in a failure. The player with the 7C mouthpiece has more to gain to slowly move away from it's original mouthpiece and try a 5C or 3C before jumping to far.
5. Selected the finalists - after trying the mouthpiece with your strategy, you should have around 5 or less mouthpieces that you like. It's now time to expose them to more difficult technical passages and try them in all dynamics, articulations and range.
Tip : Play facing a wall for this step so you can hear everything clearly.
6. Reduce even more- generally, after this step we reduce the list to 2 or 3 mouthpieces sometimes close or very contrasting. We recommend that you trust yourself and choose with your heart!
After
Because of our 3-day trial period, you can continue to try your mouthpiece at home or during a rehearsal.
We invite you to warm up every day on your new mouthpiece for three days. Starting the next day, you should see if the mouthpiece is right for you or if you would prefer to change it for another one of the finalists.
Good luck with this quest for the perfect mouthpiece and do not hesitate to get in touch with our team for more personalized advice.
Thank you to Geoffroy Cloutier-Turgeon, Twigg Musique representative and trumpet specialist for his precious advice.
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