Quick & Easy Trumpet Tips: How to Play a Shallow Mouthpiece

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Excellent introduction to playing on “the right tool for the job”! Fundamentals of breathing, support, flexibility, avoiding tension, etc. don’t change - but having a consistent embouchure/setup with a variable sound concept/mindset is key.

[@JeffWhiteMedia]

Another EXCELLENT video from an incredibly versatile and-despite his youth-experienced, professional player as a recent member of one of the best big bands with the U.S. Air Force Big Band; before that, Mark was an active freelancer in the NY Metro area playing some historically big-name jazz clubs and national tours of major Broadway shows. I think he is now based out of the Nashville area where he grew up, and plays with some of the most exciting ensembles in a town FULL of wonderful lead players. All of that to say I greatly enjoy and appreciate someone of Mark’s level making such informative videos available for free. I look forward to each one, and I highly recommend them to trumpeters of all levels, as well as music educators who are not brass players.

[@dingolab]

Thanks for the video. I’m a comeback player, and I have difficulty switching from trumpet to flugelhorn. I’m going to try this approach.

[@MarkMorganTrumpet]

Yes it’s the exact same concept!

[@bronxkid31415]

I have always responded to cheater comments by using the golf analogy. Using a putter instead of a wood to putt is NOT cheating.

[@lukejuras8024]

My struggle is that I sound great for about 2 minutes, then everything chops out and even if I go back to a regular MP my sound is shot. I've got Bach 1.5C for normal playing, a Bach 2 (B) for loud/dark or 2nd/3rd parts, a Bach 3D for lead playing, and a Bobby Shew Lead for my "cheater" that comes out when I have to try to play higher than what I can reach on my 1.5C or 3D.

[@MarkMorganTrumpet]

Sounds like you play on pretty big equipment most of the time. It’s not surprising that your chops might give out after a couple of minutes of playing on your Bobby Shew. If you don’t have any major playing obligations coming up, try warming up on your Shew or your 3D and spend about 15 minutes just playing in the staff. I find that a lot of people will only try to play their shallow equipment when they have to play in the upper register which is why they have a hard time controlling it. It might feel pretty unusual but give your lips a chance to acclimate to playing that shallower cup.

[@richarddavey9547]

Bobby Shew Lead 👍👍great mouth piece.

[@RonaldoWoke-No-MoreBand-y5m]

Hi, thanks for this much-needed video, sir! I am needing some higher notes in a new band I’m in and recently started trying a Frank Holton vintage #67 mouthpiece. I discovered this MP by accident from a young trumpet student who had bought a vintage Holton trumpet off eBay. It’s pretty shallow and very heavy. my normal mouthpiece has been a Bach 6B which is a little deeper. I definitely can play some higher notes on the shallow Holton, but I bottom-out on it often-but I’m planning to acclimate to it over time. Any opinion on these two MPs?

[@MarkMorganTrumpet]

Well I don’t know much about the Holton but from the pictures I’ve seen it does look pretty narrow and shallow. I would think that those two mouthpieces are pretty drastically different. Especially based on the rim shape. You are bottoming out because your lips are used to having a little bit more room to work with when they swell. Adding any pressure is going to force the lips into the bottom of the cup. You need to get them used to less room to work with. Spend a significant amount of time playing on your shallow mouthpiece in the middle register. I might suggest getting a shallower mouthpiece that has more of the characteristics of the Bach like the inner diameter and rim shape or a deeper mouthpiece that has more characteristics of the Holton.

[@RonaldoWoke-No-MoreBand-y5m]

@ great advice!

[@da11king]

Very informative video! First time watching a pro player talk about anyone playing on shallow equipment. Should all trumpet players(amateur or pro) own a shallow piece ?

[@MarkMorganTrumpet]

Great question! Pros, yes; amateur, depends. If it’s a really young player who hasn’t developed their chops yet, I would advise against it. But anyone who has the demands of playing in the upper register regularly should definitely have the equipment that makes their job easier.