Mellofreek

Any instrument made by Jupiter, as for as I'm concerned, should be crushed by a 2 ton pile of bricks. It's completely my opinion, but ANYTHING is better than a Jupiter instrument of any kind. ^0^

Trumpet mouthpiece = shallow, bright, loud, and obnoxious (for mello, anyway) Mello mouthpiece = deeper, darker, mellower, and simply gorgeous. I play an a UMI 6... :D

BLUE JUICE!!!!! Never knew about it until I started marching...now I refuse to use anything else. Anyway, whatever you use, just don't use the smelly crap...I personally think that's a sin. It's valve oil...not aromatherapy. <**>

81.3 and Medeabrass, you are officially my heroes!!!! That's exactly what I have wanted to say ever since I saw my first post on how beautiful PR's hornline sound is. I really just did not know how to put it in words. I love PR for their exciting and entertaining shows, but definitely not for their tone quality or volume. B)

Wha?

Personally, my favorite mello soloist is any Cavalier Rainbow soloist. (I loved the guy in '03's tone, anyone happen to know who that was??) Those guys make the piece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The high school I teach has bach mellos....my opinion? Eh. They're high school horns.

I, personally, own a Yamaha (I like it...just my opinion) but I'm lookin' in to buying a Dynasty mello. I like the Dynasty range, though sound tends to be a little brighter than Yamaha, which doesn't have the range...if that makes sense... Never personally tried the King, but from what I've heard of corps playing them, they seem a little TOO bright to me (though it may have just been the corps playing method...)

w/Stp: I'm the exact same way. Though in the off season, I usually play enough of both instruments not to have any issues with switching. Isn't there a book or something on that? If you switch between instruments enough, your lips just figure out how to adjust to each particular instrument. Though, I'm a freek. I'm going to try and play my mellophone for a student recital. IT'S GONNA BE FUN!!!!! I love shock value sometimes! heh heh... b**bs Hey Mickey, are you marching again this coming summer?

Instead of giving my opinion on this subject, I think I'll just ask a question...what exactly ARE the philosophies to brass playing for the main 5 corps being mentioned? Can anyone help with this? I march one of these corps, but I would just like to see what other people say that the approaches are. As a side question, do you think these philosophies hurt or help the brass education that the students are receiving? I've often heard horror stories from directors about their kids coming back and taking forever and a day to fix their playing. I personally have improved DRAMATICALLY as a french horn player after I came back from each summer the past 3 years (AND I PLAY FRIGGIN' MELLOPHONE!!!!...horn players should know what I'm talking about). Anyway, thoughts? B) P.S. I love all drum corps, so don't try to say I'm going one way or another!