Mouthpiece consultations

[Dkjcliff]

Are there any well known/respected mouthpiece makers that do online video consultations? As I near the one-year mark of my comeback and my embouchure is becoming more developed, I'm getting the sense that I've been gravitating to the wrong size of mouthpiece for my physical characteristics. It would be great if I could get a mouthpiece expert to watch me play and make some recommendations. Thanks.
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Selmer Radial II
Yamaha YHF-635T Flugelhorn
Martin Indiana Cornet

[Bethmike]

One option is Phyllis Stork of Stork Mouthpieces. Set up a Skype meeting with her. She will help select a mouthpiece that fits your facial structure.
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Bach190ML43
Kanstul 1001
Bach NY7
Yamaha 631 Flugel

[Jaw04]

No, there is not a right size mouthpiece based on physical characteristics. You can learn to play whatever mouthpiece you like. You can fit your lips into a small mouthpiece if you have big lips, and likewise if you have very small lips, you can play tuba.

Mouthpiece choice is about sound, type of playing, and response that you are looking for.

[Jim19043]

Another maker that does consultations is Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces. Their website says they do consultations by phone, email, or Facebook Messenger. I do not know if they do FaceTime or Skype or Zoom consultations, but you might give them a call at (800) 837-0980 or email them at info@bobreeves.com. Since you are in San Diego, you might consider an in-person consultation at their office in Valencia, just north of Los Angeles.
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Jim19043
1998 Bach Strad L180S72
GR 3MX

[austincustombrass]

[wilder]

You need to study with a player that knows how to teach. jw

[deleted_user_687c31b]

[cheiden]

Don't know about video but GR gets a lot of buzz about their consultations.
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"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[Richard A]

[cgaiii]

I think Stomvi does these consultations too.
K. O. has published some videos about consulting on mouthpieces in person. Not sure about video consultation.
https://stomvi-usa.com/contact-form/
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Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales

[hose]

Ken Titmus "KT", after 34 years as Warburton's mpc man has just opened a custom mouthpiece shop in his Orlando home. He diagnoses in person or over the phone. www.ktcustommouthpiece.com
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Dave Wisner

Picketts
Yamaha 6335RC
Yamaha 8335RS
Lawler Flugel
Kanstul cornet

[AndyDavids]

Warburton

[HERMOKIWI]

There is no scientific foolproof method of determining the best mouthpiece for anyone. There are just theories and tendencies which may or not apply very well depending on the particular player involved.

The physical characteristics of a particular player are numerous (lip dimensions, jaw positioning, teeth, oral cavity, muscle structure/strength, embouchure profile, etc., etc.) and are all interrelated in very complex ways. There are also many different ways players approach playing. Players also have their own personal definitions of what they find comfortable and uncomfortable and what works for them and what does not.

There are so many variables that it would be impossible to identify with precision the best mouthpiece for someone based on physical characteristics alone. The best you can reasonably hope for is a statement that "Based on what we see about your physical characteristics coupled with what we observe about your playing coupled with what we know about the theory of mouthpiece design and how mouthpiece design is predicted to affect results we predict that (insert mouthpiece specifications here) will result in (insert specifics of improvement here). However, in your personal situation we reserve the right to be wrong or not quite as right as we'd hoped."

Mouthpieces are very personal in terms of the player's perceptions of how they feel, how they play and the results obtained by playing them. There's nothing wrong with mouthpiece consultations. I think for most players there is a benefit to working with someone who has an excellent knowledge of the mechanics of mouthpieces and the predicted effects of those mechanics. At the end of the day, however, mouthpiece recommendations are "recommendations". They are predictions based on the best evidence known to the person doing the predicting. That evidence may be misleading, incomplete or lacking in some way. The predictions may require more fine tuning/major adjusting later once the results are actually known. They are not guarantees.
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HERMOKIWI

[Richard III]

I would also assume that anyone associated with a mouthpiece maker, would have you play their mouthpiece and recommend any changes to be done with their mouthpieces. That limits your choices. Years ago, I did the questionnaire for GR and ended up with a great mouthpiece choice. However, over time GR did not have a mouthpiece that matched my goals, so I moved on.

I'm a big fan of the quantity method. Keep buying and trying until you have a box of mouthpieces. Every once in a while go through the box again. You will learn something and may find a gem you passed up earlier on. And of course, repeat that whenever you feel the need.
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Richard

Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet

[hose]

[Richard III]

I have boxes for cornet, trumpet, french horn and baritone. Same process. Baritone or euphonium has different shanks depending on US or EU. I went to try new euphoniums yesterday. I brought three mouthpieces to cover the options.

You just never know and an example was a recent play of an old cornet. Out came the box and a King 7M was the perfect match. I also collect vintage mouthpieces for that purpose. You really just never know.

Mouthpieces are relatively cheap and we are ever changing in our structure and development.
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Richard

Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet

[Filius]

[nltrumpet]

While I don’t use his mouthpieces, I know Dr. Dave at Wedge Mouthpieces does online video consultations.

[bjcord]

I handle all of the mouthpiece consultations at Monette by phone and email (and in-person appointments), and will sometimes ask a player to send a short video so I can see and hear how they play.

[deleted_user_687c31b]