90'sMelloguy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 This whole topic kinda reminds me of a funny story from 03, when my section leader just got some 80 dollar mouthpiece in the mail a couple weeks into all days. Literally less than 5 minutes into our first warmup after he got it, our caption head comes over and says "you can't use that, go get your other one," leaving my section leader to ##### for the rest of the day "WTF, I ate nothing but Ramen for a week so I could afford that thing." Ouch...that really sucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jafar Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 dont blue devils make everyone use the wayne downey mouthpieces? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90'sMelloguy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 dont blue devils make everyone use the wayne downey mouthpieces? I am pretty sure. That is a bit shady if you ask me though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchromik Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 (edited) I can see both sides of the coin here. But there really is no arguement that standardizing on given sets of mouthpieces works. A whole lot of Jim Otts have been won that way. There are just to many variables, particularly in trumpet pieces. Yes, the ensemble sound is a product of the teaching technique, but the use of the same set of variables helps in creating that sound much quicker. It may not be the best for every player, but the pieces chosen are probably perfect for 80% of players. Plus learning to adapt isn't all bad. It forces you to concentrate and get to know your embouchure, just as adapting to the given technique lets you look at your breathing and tongueing in a new light. A good brass player can play anything well under varying conditions. There sure were not music stores full of mouthpieces in Clark & Arban's days. And they did alright. My mello playing helped my trumpet playing. It was like cross training. The switching of keys, the different mouthpieces all caused a brief period of adjustment, but that shortened the more you did it. The amount of air I could put through the horn and the warm wonderful tone I could generate on the trumpet after a summer of mello was fantastic. Learning to adapt can make you a better brass player, versus being a set-in-your-way, un-able to adapt speacialist trumpet player. Back in the day I played on the mello 6, which was hands down the best mello piece at the time and still has it's fans. It forced everyone on the same cup and diameter, be they trumpet or horn players. Now the Star Alums and Star United are playing on the Curry TF piece. It is a godsend for it comes in different cup diameters while using the same shape cup. Very consistant tone can be produced while allowing for differences in embouchure. I can even get a whole slew of trumpet pieces in the same diameter so I am one happy camper. This seems like a better approach for the future. Using a proportional shaped cup in a limited number of sizes to allow each player to get some freedom of fit, yet standardize on given set of variables. Lines such as Warburton and Curry allow that. If you cannot adapt to playing on a given horn and given mouthpiece, or a given range of mouthpieces, then maybe you need to re-evaluate why you want to play with 70 other folks playing the same music with precise technique and approach. Edited September 4, 2006 by mchromik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aatlb25 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 People should be able to play the whole Arban book before they start experimenting with mouthpieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einstein On The Beach Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 People should be able to play the whole Arban book before they start experimenting with mouthpieces. You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90'sMelloguy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking. no kidding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuCharlie Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 I am pretty sure. That is a bit shady if you ask me though Especially after reading those Brass Advantage articles by Wayne Downey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90'sMelloguy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Especially after reading those Brass Advantage articles by Wayne Downey. :spit: no kidding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aatlb25 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking. Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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