Trumpet mouthpiece for 5th grader.

**heath** · 11-02-2007, 08:36 AM

Anyone got any recommendations for a trumpet mouthpiece for a 5th grade girl. I have a coworker that has a daughter that is going to be playing a used Yamaha 2335 Bb and I was wanting to help them find a good mouthpiece. Hopefully something that is less resistant and will allow her to play well without having to struggle too much.

Any help would be appreciated.

**hakukani** · 11-02-2007, 08:44 AM

I always had the younger ones start on a 7C. Real trumpet players may disagree.

**gary** · 11-02-2007, 02:12 PM

Hi heath! I would recommend a Schilke #11. It's an overall fairly moderate mouthpiece regarding cup size, width, etc. It's fairly free blowing, full (a little darkish) sound, good responding mpc. IMO a student should begin with a moderate (which doesn't have to imply "boring") mpc.

Probably the "industry standard" is a Bach 7C. For some reason Bachs and I have never gotten along. I think it might be because the inner rim is a little sharper than I am comfortable with. At any rate, the Schilke #11 is a 7C-ish mpc but with a more comfortable inner rim. And I just happen to like the sound very much.

The parents should be able to pick one up for around $35.00-40.00 new.

I will add, though, that a standard Bach 7C and their stock copies are usually decent mpcs for beginners. I believe the Yamaha standard mpc is more a Schilke than a Bach copy -could be wrong- but the stock Yamaha trpt. mpc is pretty decent.

In a sense, getting the Schilke #11 instead of keeping the stock Yamaha would be like getting a Selmer S80 C* to replace a Yamaha 4 (or 5)C.

Martinman · 11-02-2007, 03:22 PM

I think all the trumpet player in my high school (and middle school) were playing the 7c.

**heath** · 11-02-2007, 05:38 PM

Okay thinks guys. Just out of curiosity what kind of mouthpiece would be necessary for her to sound like Freddie Hubbard in a couple of weeks.

**Martin Williams** · 11-02-2007, 06:34 PM

Actually, I think she needs a Schilke 6A4a. That is the optimal piece for developing trumpeters. Very shallow and easy on the chops. Preffered by band directors!! The young lass will sound like Hubbard in THREE days!!

All kidding aside, a 5C or 7C is a standard begining piece for her to start her chops on. Once shes been playing for a long time she can explore something else!

jaysne · 12-07-2007, 06:24 PM

In my trumpet tech class, our professor recommended Bach 7C for beginners, and left it at that.

It's what comes with all the rental horns I get at my school, and I've had no problems with it.

stu the sax player · 12-07-2007, 06:38 PM

My father is a trumpet teacher and player here in ottawa and he reccomends a 7C as a good starting point.

stefane

**Enviroguy** · 12-07-2007, 07:20 PM

I got my little girl the Schilke mouthpiece. It is well made, responds well and seems to give her better tone than the Bach.

Oh, and check this out for marching band:

http://www.kellymouthpieces.com/

I picked up a "Kelly Screamer" that I am going to put in my little girl's stocking this Christmas.

**Martin Williams** · 12-07-2007, 07:28 PM

When it gets cold here I wish I could use those Enviroguy. Ive got two, a 3C and the Screamer, but we arent allowed to use those in the OSUMB

**Enviroguy** · 12-08-2007, 05:21 PM

Sorry to hear about the unenlightened policies at your school concerning the use of space age polymers.

But how do you like the Kelly Screamer? Is it pretty good on the football field as advertised?

**Martin Williams** · 12-08-2007, 07:22 PM

eh the no plastic thing is an image part of the OSUMB, its gotta be a silverplated piece, and if you cant do silver, we have stainless steel pieces.

Its not to bad, I put a metal sleeve on mine, it didn't have enough mass itself to really project for me otherwise. The Curry sound Sleeve was amazing for it, made a big difference.

My absolute mpc for someone playing high is a Marcinkewitz, their choice of model. I play a Vizzuti, one of the larger deeper lead pieces, and I can play nigh on all day with a nice sound you cant get from a standard shallow sceamer!

Martinman · 12-08-2007, 07:26 PM

Couldn't you just get some silver model paint and paint the outside of the mouthpiece where your lips don't touch?

**Enviroguy** · 12-08-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Williams

eh the no plastic thing is an image part of the OSUMB, its gotta be a silverplated piece, and if you cant do silver, we have stainless steel pieces.

Its not to bad, I put a metal sleeve on mine, it didn't have enough mass itself to really project for me otherwise. The Curry sound Sleeve was amazing for it, made a big difference.

My absolute mpc for someone playing high is a Marcinkewitz, their choice of model. I play a Vizzuti, one of the larger deeper lead pieces, and I can play nigh on all day with a nice sound you cant get from a standard shallow sceamer!

So you like the Al Vizzuti model? Is yours the E12?

Now let me aske a really dumb question, understanding that I know nothing about playing brass. Next year will be my little girl's first year in maching band after playing for two years. Can she handle a mouthpiece like the Vizzuti? Or should I wait.

stu the sax player · 12-08-2007, 08:42 PM

Wait

Edit: that was my father's suggestion

**Martin Williams** · 12-08-2007, 09:51 PM

Only two years? Might be to early for anything shallow.

And yes, thats my mpc!

I really wouldn't recommend switching with out a solid 4 years under her belt and a comfortable range above the staff, at that point the embrochure should be developed enough to handle the change and not promote bad habits.

Brass Embrochures arent like sax embrochures, takes much more effort to maintain a proper one! If you mess it up early, it may be hard to correct!

themacintrasher · 01-08-2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heath

Okay thinks guys. Just out of curiosity what kind of mouthpiece would be necessary for her to sound like Freddie Hubbard in a couple of weeks.

A magic one!

Chilly Zee · 01-08-2008, 06:10 AM

I think the Schilke 11 was a great recommendation for a young player, glad to hear it worked out. Trumpet designs vary a lot among the different makers and the numbering systems usually just designate differences within that line. There is a great resource that shows digitized scans of many different trumpet mouthpieces at:
http://www.kanstul.net/mpcJN/Compare/CompareIE.HTM

Select a mpc on the left (Schilke11 = S11) then another on the right (Bach 7C = B7C). Then drag one over the other to compare the rim and cup designs. According to this the Schilke 11 is very close to the original NY Bach 7C (BNY7C).

It's a good visual but doesn't give all the detail. For example the Schilke rims are a bit more rounded, but you can't see it in this scan.

Charlie