Practicing With a Practice Mute

EWerner · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:57 am Post subject: Practicing With a Practice Mute

There are times at my house where the family asks that I use my practice mute and I can understand why they ask. But other than playing scales, lip flexibility and long tones using a practice mute really sucks because it changes the air flow quite a bit.

Are all practice mutes the same? Mine is a Denis Wick .

Thanks

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

Some are better, some are worse, but all significantly change the feel and dynamics of the horn. I tend to only use mine for midrange tone studies and the like. There is a nice comparison article on The Schilke Loyalist's Gearhead website.
_________________
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

DaveH · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Nov 2001 Posts: 3587

I agree with the above about practice mutes.

They will change the response of the horn. They also do not allow you to hear yourself as you do with a open horn, which, IMO, is a big draw back to practicing with any kind of mute.

I fear that after using a mute for a long enough period of time, some amount of compensatory and negative playing behaviors and habits may develop due to the effect of the mute.

Comeback

Redhothorn · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject:

Well, I am once again taking the practice mute plunge. We moved to a condo and I need one for my range studies. Most of the time, I practice very softly and wouldn't need one; however, with range studies I will have to use one now.

I owned a Shastock "Whispa" Mute several years ago and really liked it. I am ordering a Trumcor Lyric Stealth Practice Mute based on the mute study cited above.
_________________
Russell Dixon
Yamaha YTR8340EM Custom Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 631G Flugelhorn
**************************************
www.TrumpetPlayersDirectory.com
www.FemaleTrumpetArtist.com

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:09 pm Post subject:

I would not use a practice mute for range development. Learning to be a great player using a practice mute may not translate to playing well open. I would find times that work or another place to practice.

Do you have a walk in closet? if not, just playing into a closet filled with clothes might work.
_________________
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

jiarby · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Posts: 739

I mainly use a manny klein shhh shhh mute because i like the "cuppy" tone. My wife in the bedroom prefers the faxx mute and claims it is quieter than the stonelined one. I don't like the tinny straight mute sound as much.

I think the best brass is quieter than both.

trumpet2012fhl · Regular Member Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 23

I have never tried a "practice" mute. But I do own a Yamaha Silent Brass and I love it. You should look into them.

Redhothorn · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:40 am Post subject:

Yamahaguy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3312

Yamaha Silent Brass is wonderful when the kiddies are sleeping...

EWerner · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:13 am Post subject:

FrankM · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject:

For anyone having trouble understanding/iterpreting the often profered advice to 'open the throat & relax', the Wick can be useful if you follow the instruction leaflet. That is:- a 15 minute session of pushing the air into it so strongly that it starts to rattle will, in a few weeks yield results.

I tried this & it worked for me, & I continue to use it for loud long tone practice. Don't like using the mute for extended playing though. A Harmon with the tube out is just as quiet.

Irving · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 857

Regarding the Wick practice mute...Try closing one of the holes. I found that the mute works much better that way. I ended up sealing one of the holes with epoxy.

jhatpro · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:00 am Post subject:

A practice mute when necessary is better than no practice, and the quietest mute in my experience is the Bremner Shhhh! mute.
_________________
Jim Hatfield
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

"Unfortunately, music is not my first language."

EWerner · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:29 am Post subject:

Redhothorn · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:16 am Post subject:

jhatpro · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:07 am Post subject:

You'll like it. Sturdy plastic, very slim profile, and quiet.
_________________
Jim Hatfield
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

"Unfortunately, music is not my first language."

oxleyk · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:21 am Post subject:

I have a Bremner also, but the best I've tried is the Best Brass Jr. Very quiet with very little resistance.

http://thompsonmusic.com/store/product6077.html

Kent

chrisf3000 · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 184

I own the Yamaha Silent Brass, the Shastock "Whispa", the Denis Wick practice mute as well as the Softone Mute (neoprene). I have tried the Bremner, the Brass Spa, the Best Brass and others that I can't think of right now. My new favorite mute?

The Wallace "Studio Practice Mute". This one has it all - an easy blow, even pitch up and down, lack of stuffiness, a nice soft buzz for response and ability to play both "loud" and soft. The closest thing that it sounds like is a very soft harmon mute. I finally feel like I can actually practice as if I were playing without a mute.

Runner-up to this is the Softone. The neoprene helps dampen the overall volume but doesn't block much air (if at all!) It's slightly louder so it might be heard in the next room, but soft enough for apartment practice. FWIW, the Wallace "Compact Practice Mute" is not nearly as good as the Studio Mute. Hope that helps!

infoleather · New Member Joined: 06 Aug 2012 Posts: 2 Location: New York

I practice very light, will not need one, however, the use of the scope of the study, I will have to use a.
_________________
The leather bags for men are generally hand made, therefore it will take more time to make Black chain strap bag in general