From time to time, students ask the question “Is my mouthpiece in the correct position”?
To their teacher, this is the question most instructors try to avoid. The reason for their reluctance is that to change a student’s mouthpiece position means many unpleasant lessons both for the student as well as their instructor. I will list some of the reasons brass teachers are reluctant to start on this sometimes unpleasant journey.
1. Changing a mouthpiece placement more often than not will entail a sudden loss of what the student is capable of at the time of change. The comfort zone is totally changed’ for most students find that the new position of the mouthpiece feels very foreign and the students ability to play up to their current standard is difficult or even impossible.
2. Performing with a new position is more complicated if the player is actively performing at the time of the change. Most students will revert back to their old position if they are under pressure. In order to make a successful switch, it is best to do so when the person has time to concentrate on the position change and not worry about performing during the switch.
3. In order for a player to be successful in a mouthpiece placement change, both the player and teacher MUST be convinced that a position change will help the player. If any doubt is in the players mind as to the advantage of the switch, making the change is greatly questionable. The player must be convinced that he/she has advanced as far as possible with his/her original mouthpiece position.
4. In most cases, the change in mouthpiece position will have these immediate results-
• The upper register will be more difficult
• The players endurance will be lessened
• Consistent attacks will we questionable
• The players confidence will be lessened
• Many times tone will be affected
With all these possible effects during a mouthpiece placement change, one should be certain that the change will be beneficial to the player.
As painful as this scenario sounds, there are cases where the switch is needed. To give you an example of a needed change, let me share my own situation of a successful change.
Early in my life ( 8-10 years old) a friend threw a large rock at me in play. Unfortunately it hit me square in the chops. Due to this unfortunate accident, I sustained some damage where my mouthpiece usually sets. The timing was unfortunate for the very next week I had to play my solo in state solo ensemble contest. I was able to rest the lip enough to get it scabbed over before I performed my solo and I got through it fairly well. My judge at that time was John Beer (trumpet professor at the University of Iowa). After completing my solo, John gave me some complements and asked me to play my last high C for him. Knowing the condition of my lip from the accident, I tried to explain my situation but he insisted and I complied. Again he asked me to play the high note but suggested that I “put more air through my horn”. Again I tried to explain my accident but again he insisted. I complied and as I got to the end of the note, my lip split open and blood began to run down my chin. The look on John’s face was that of utter shock and disbelief. After many minutes of apologies and obvious concern, I was given my first place evaluation and escorted out of the room. Many years later, while visiting with my good friend, I asked him if he remembered the event but he had no recollection of that moment. To me, it is still fresh in my memory. Due to the eventual scare from the accident, I moved my mouthpiece off center to my left a little. Throughout my career, it remained on the left side. Last year, I decided to bring it to the center to see if it would make a difference and it did. My playing was changed in the following ways.
Positive effects of the mouthpiece placement change to my playing-
• High range has always been a problem for me and with the change (and regular practice) it has improved
• Endurance has improved
• Flexibility has improved
• Tone is more centered
• Entrances are more secure, especially on high notes
Negative effects of the mouthpiece placement change to my playing-
• None
Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of going through this change in a person’s trumpet playing will give you some information as to what it entails and only you will be able to decide if your mouthpiece position change is worth it. In the following posts, I will share additional insight into this very important issue.
