Did the mouthpiece feel "right" to you as a beginn

[Robert P]

If you remember, how long did it take for the mp to feel like it really fit or belonged on your lips?
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Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C

Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo

Chinese Flugel

[abontrumpet]

I have floated/posited the idea that before puberty, individual possess low somatic awareness. That, combined with inexperience on the instrument, results in "unawareness" for a very (relatively) long time.

Most young beginners don't seem to really "feel" the mouthpiece and they are very far away from "feeling a sense of belonging" of the mouthpiece. That is the "blessing" they are given (they don't have to think as much -- while adult beginners have the curse of somatic awareness); they just approach the instrument from a position of "play."

That being said, personally, I never thought about mouthpiece and the way it felt until undergrad. In middle/high school, I played middle of the road name brands (Yamaha and Bach). Now, depending on the year/month/week/day, the mouthpiece feels more at home versus other days. At an advanced level, it's obvious when a mouthpiece has the potential to work for you and when it will not. Often, "comfort" is a product of "good efficient playing" more than the specs of a mouthpiece. When I play poorly, my mouthpiece feels terrible and vice versa.

[Seymor B Fudd]

On second thoughts, I honestly do not remember! Only thing I know is that when the Salvation Army no 1 seemed too narrow I consulted the local dealer who handed me a V B 1 1/4 C telling me this is a very good mouthpiece. (And it was a very good fit to my King)
That´s it. And I used it some 30 years, never reflecting how come. Trumpet and cornet versions.
During all these years I tested a lot of other mouthpieces none of which served me better.
So sheer luck or? Might add that no formal lessons up til I got 72, the first year aside, 1957.
Growing old thus always looking for things making playing more easy I have switched to Schilke, same width (14), different letters etc etc. Nicer rim.
However, the other day I got an opportunity to play an old V B 1 1/4C again. It worked just fine......
Making me wonder how come I switched???

Take away??? You tell me!
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Cornets: mp 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)

[Billy B]

I have never paid any attention to how it feels. My focus is on how it sounds.
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Bill Bergren

[jhatpro]

ACB TA1 felt right immediately.
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Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[abontrumpet]

[Andy Cooper]

Conn 4 cornet mouthpiece. It was terrible in 1957. My opinion has not changed.

I now use a Neill Sanders 17M.

[JayKosta]

[Rhondo]

I didn’t pick up a trumpet (or any other wind instrument) until age 40.

I didn’t really think about the mouthpiece; it was just part of this thing called a trumpet that I was trying to make a sound on that didn’t sound sour.

As I progressed to make a good sound I still never thought about it. The only thing I thought about was if that ‘thing’ was difficult to play on a given day or if it was going well.

My trumpet did come with 2 different mouthpieces, and whether it was obvious to me right away or I was advised to use the Bach Corp. 5C instead of the Schilke 14a4a, I set the Schilke aside and played the 5C- never considering any other choice.

[JWG]

Mouthpieces have to fit you, not vice-versa.

If you try to fit your mouthpiece . . . arguably, you fall under Einstein's alleged definition of an idiot . . . a person who tries the same experiment over and over again and expects a different result.

You need to choose a rim diameter, width, contour, and alpha angle that works with your unique physiology. The size, thickness, and shape of your lips, your upper and lower jaw alignment/protrusion, and the size and alignment of your teeth will dictate the right mouthpiece.
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Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb and C with 1.5 TCC, XT, C, C-O, O, & L mouthpieces
Bach 183S (undersprung valves & straight taper pipe) with 1.5 Flip Oakes XF

[stuartissimo]

It’s too long ago to remember for me. I do know I wanted to play timpani at the time, not trumpet. I’m still not sure whether the/a mouthpiece feels right if I’m honest. I’m not a natural, never was.

[abontrumpet]

[JayKosta]

[abontrumpet]

[Rhondo]

If it sounds good it feels good, no?

[ellie]

As an adult beginner (~6 months) I will say the mouthpiece still feels strange to me and my mouthpiece placement is inconsistent even now. Also I have not tried too many mouthpieces but I cannot feel too much of a difference in rim size, angles and other things that veterans talk about. It seems simply impossible for us beginners to evaluate a mouthpiece in any meaningful way with our extremely limited range, and general instability... with the exception of a Denis Wick 4B which, within 5min of trying, I knew I never wanted to touch ever again

[CaptPat]

I was a beginner in 4th grade so my memory is a bit hazy. At the time one adapted to the mouthpiece provided by the manufacturer, there was no talk about different sizes, shapes, etc. It wasn't painful or even weird, and after a bit of coaching recognizable sounds issued. I didn't move on to a different mouthpiece until high school, a Bach of some version. I was convinced it improved my playing by quite a bit -- probably confirmation bias.

[JayKosta]

[JayKosta]

[patdublc]