Mike Herrlott ls a Toronto-based trumpet player.
He has toured the globe with shows and various
BRA: ensembles, recorded with his own projects and well-known artists, and appeared as a soloist with
orchestras and bands across Canada, www.mlkeherriott.com.
I
have always held fhe sfrong belief fhaf fhe mosf impor-
fant aspect of playing any instrument is the quality of
sound fhaf is produced. Wifhouf if, any aftempf fo make
music would seem futile.
In previous articles, I have wriffen abouf focusing on
sound during warm up; building good habits of posture,
breafhing, and balancing embouchure and air; and also
development of consistent and desired range on the trum-
pet. These are fundamental components of good trumpet
playing. As important is the equipment we choose.
Getting Started
The mouthpiece is whaf makes fhe frumpef sound a certain
way and fhe choice we make in fhaf regard should always
be for fhe sound we desire, and nof because we fhink if
will help us gef fhaf double C. A player who wanf s exfreme
range should be able to reach it on any equipment.
In general terms, a large cavify - cup, rim, efc - will
produce a darker sound. As fhe moufhpiece cavify gefs
smaller, the sound gefs brighter. An orchestral player will
use a large piece, whereas a lead frumpef player in a big
band mighf be more inclined fov^ards somefhing smaller
wifh a shallower cup.
Also confributing to fhe effectiveness of your mouthpiece
choice are the throat and back-bore. Diameter in fhese areas
will affect not only the sound, but the feeling of the mouth-
piece by accommodating a larger airsfream or keeping fhe
flow of air consfricted.
The most common moufhpiece size for a sfudenf fo sfart on
is a 7C or equivalenf. The size of fhe rim accommodafes fhe
embouchure of a young person wifh undeveloped muscula-
fure. Mosf offen, as fhe sfudenf's embouchure and fechnique
advance, a feacher will advise a switch fo a larger piece.
Whether aspiring toward orchestral, jazz, lead, latin, or
any other specific focus of sfyle, if's very common for us
fo look fo professionals already working in fhose areas for
examples of whaf equipmenf fo choose. Jazz frumpefers vful
be inclined fo use any number of combinafions because
fhere is so much room for unique sound and approach fo
playing. A lead frumpef player in a big band will have more
[301 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN
PHOTO: NATASHA KOMODA, KIMONO PHOTOGRAPHY
By Mike Herrioff
specific expecfafions regarding sound, as will a player in a
lafin band.
Versatility
In this day and age of frumpef playing, fhere is more and
more need for a player fo be as versatile as possible. My own
schedule fhrough fhe course of a typical year will have me
playing Broadway shows, recording and performing wifh
symphony orchestras in the trumpet section and as soloist,
brass quinfefs, big bands - playing in the section, lead, or
out front as soloisf, as well as playing piccolo, flugelhorn,
Ek efc... If I were fo fry fo do all fhaf work using one moufh-
piece, I would be making my life very difficult and limiting
my abilify fo be true to each style.
As a result, I carry five different moufhpieces fo accom-
modafe fhe requiremenfs I encounter: one for lead playing,
one for classical solo or chamber playing, one for symphonic
pops solo and/or Broadway shows, one for piccolo, and one
for flugelhorn.
In my experience, fhe besf way to choose which moufh-
piece is righf for fhe job is fo go fo your local music sfore
(one that has a good sterilizing agent on hand) and try out a
variety of mouthpieces based on fhe general recommenda-
tions I have indicated above.
Bring some frumpef playing buddies vriih you to listen
objectively and help you figure out what vvforks best. Ensure
fhaf you're playing the type of things that are typical to what
you v^fant from fhe moufhpiece; screaming out high notes
on a piece you intend for orchestral playing won't help you
make your decision.
My lasf piece of advice is fhaf you nof gef foo obsessed
wifh finding fhe exact right one. There are players who carry
one piece around and others who carry cases of them and
never seem happy wifh any. While you wouldn'f expecf
a plumber fo shov\f up fo fix your sink carrying jusf one
wrench, you would feel equally strange if the guy arrived
wifh a vvfhole truck load of equipmenf for a simple job.
The mosf imporfanf fhing fo focus on is geffing fhe music
ouf properly and wifh fhe righf sound - fhe sound fhaf your
ears fell you is righf.
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