Switching between trumpet and flugelhorn mid-piece

[Stradbrother]

Hello everyone

Just curious, does anyone have any techniques or advice for switching between trumpet and flugelhorn mid-piece?

I have plenty of experience with this, with a few solo works out there like Peaslee's Nightsongs involving switching back and forth, and of course the many many works for band and a few for orchestra that involve switching to Flugelhorn for a movement or solo...

But I want to really fine-tune this skill.

Currently I play a Schilke 15 on my Bb horn, and a UMI (CKB) 3C for my flugelhorn.

While flugelhorn obviously gets an extremely characteristic sound from a deep V-cup like I have in the UMI mouthpiece, would switching to a less-intense V cup or maybe even a C-type cup help with this transition?

Give me your thoughts and any experience you may have had that really worked for you.

Thank you so much!

[JayKosta]

[Turkle]

I just make sure I have the same rim on both my trumpet and flugel mouthpieces. That way there is no difficulty switching, no matter how different the cup depth is.

When I play a Curry 3C. on trumpet, I play a Curry 3FLD. on flugel.

When I play a Reeves 43C on trumpet, I play a Reeves 43HF on flugel.

Etc, etc.

(Same goes for C trumpet, Picc, etc. Same rim across everything so switching is seamless.)
_________________
Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.

[zaferis]

I'll agree that having the same rim helps, but there are players that switch easily.

First of all practice what you perform. In your practice sessions, occassionaly pick up your Flugel and play part of the etude/solo/exercise that you're working on. Get yourself comfortable and "chop" knowledgeable about the move.
Practice on your Flugel - allow your body to learn what the difference is.

Then tuning.. know that when you pick up that other instrument (Flugel in this case) that it has been sitting at room temp. So, in prep, tune it accordingly, knowing that if you then play a long passage and the instrument warms, you may have to adjust mid tune.
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Stradbrother]

I feel like my biggest issue is range accuracy.

My pitch isn't too bad, but when I have to play above the staff on flugelhorn (like in Nightsongs, for example), the upper range doesn't speak like it does on trumpet, obviously, and I feel like I have a hard time compensating for that when I switch back and forth.

[Richard III]

No tricks, just practice more. I switch between cornet, french horn and flugel. The mouthpiece rims are all different. For me the hardest part is the fingering changes but that's just a factor of the same thing, practicing making the switch and playing them all frequently.
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Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

[veery715]

[Stradbrother]

I feel like in my practicing, I just end up with inconsistent results.

I feel like I am going to try to match my mouthpieces a little bit more in the rim, and maybe find a flugelhorn mouthpiece with less V, and I'll see how that goes.

After years of switching back and forth mid-piece, and practicing hours a day as a profession, I feel like it's worth checking out equipment at this point at least a bit.

[Richard III]

[Richard III]

I watched a brass band concert last summer where the soprano cornet player stood up and played a trumpet solo. Then he went back to the soprano. Yikes. Talk about way different instruments. He sounded great.
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Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

[mrhappy]

[giakara]

Same rim for all my horn .

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

[dershem]

Technique? Yes - put down one horn, pick up the other. Make sure you've spent enough time on each horn that playing it is comfortable. Hope the horn is warm. (Someone really needs to develop a horn stand that keeps your horn warm). Play.
_________________
BKA! Mic Gillette was my mentor and friend.
Marcinkiewicz Mic G. trumpet, Custom Marcinkiewicz mpc. (Among others)
Marcinkiewicz Rembrandt flugel, Benge 8Z cornet, King 2B, Bach 36, Benge 190, Getzen 3062... many more. All Marc. mouthpieces.

[Bill Ortiz]

I also prefer using the same rim for both trumpet and flugelhorn. Makes switching back and forth easier and more consistent for me.
_________________
'56 Martin Committee Deluxe #2 trumpet
14B Schilke mouthpiece
Couesnon Paris flugelhorn
Bob Reeves Sleeves and PVA

[mrhappy]

[Brassnose]

Isn't this why we all carry power banks with us these days? Just in case you forget the cord?

On a more serious note, using the same diameter has also improved things for me - my Klier USA 5C and GR 65FL both have a 16.5 mm diameter (though not the same rim, doesn't matter so much to me).

I have also been very happy with my rather new Rieger & Gräf 3C made from walnut wood. Does not cool off and is nice to play even if you pick up the instrument cold. Works really nicely with my Eterna C, too. They also make flugel pieces, but you would need to check the shank, of course.
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2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[cbtj51]

[Louise Finch]

Hi

I definitely think that using the same rim aids switching.

You say:

My pitch isn't too bad, but when I have to play above the staff on flugelhorn (like in Nightsongs, for example), the upper range doesn't speak like it does on trumpet, obviously, and I feel like I have a hard time compensating for that when I switch back and forth.

My gut feeling is that you are concentrating too much on the differences between trumpet and flugel horn. I'm not sure how much you play flugel or how familiar you are with the playing characteristics of your particular flugel, but presuming that you have a good approach to flugel and know the playing characteristics and intonation quirks of your flugel well, when you switch midpiece, rather than concentrating on how your flugel differs from your trumpet, I would just adopt the mindset of I'm playing flugel now, and would approach flugel in all regards like I was playing only flugel for the whole session.

In addition to switching between trumpet and flugel mid piece, I also have to play some numbers on cornet in my community light orchestra. I don't have to switch mid piece, but have to suddenly play a piece on cornet in the middle of a concert programme. I cope with the switch, because I'm equally familiar with cornet and trumpet, and just use my trumpet approach for trumpet and cornet approach for cornet.

I hope that this will be of some help.

All the best

Lou
_________________
Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

[cbtj51]

[Stradbrother]