36. Many musicians play with mouthpieces that are too large.

Greetings MetalHeads!

When you play with a mouthpiece that is too large, you have the false sensation that everything is easier, as if you were surfing on top of  the notes. "Everything stays more or less, but nothing stays in its place." You pass over the notes, but it's not very clear what you're playing.

 

"When you come to my workshop and we adjust and customize the mouthpiece, if you play with a mouthpiece that is too large, we will almost certainly have to close it a bit somewhere; for each musician, it will be different, to center the notes, adjust the staccatos, high registers, etc. Once we have it and they try it, the musicians always tell me the same thing:" "The high register is easier, the staccato becomes more precise, and everything is more centered."

 

But, almost always the same "but" comes...

"The sound is not that powerful, I can't play that loud."

And now I suggest you a game:

Imagine two musicians with the same talent and technical perfection.

They are auditioning for an orchestra position.

Both have studied a lot and are super prepared.

The first musician believes that playing with a large mouthpiece will give him a powerful sound suitable for the audition.

"You launch into playing, the sound is impressive, the fast passages are good, but you rush through them a bit, and you reach the high registers well... but the sound of the harmonics is somewhat sad and lacks projection for such a large hall. You struggle to keep everything in its place, and in the end, you finish the audition and feel good, satisfied with the result, but you know you had to put in a lot of energy for everything to fit together."

 

Now imagine a second musician, with a customized mouthpiece, adapted to their playing style.

"Its sound is not as powerful in the Fortissimo passages, but it has much more projection. The high registers and harmonics are in their place, clear and precise, the fast passages are clear, and its phrasing flows naturally, effortlessly, allowing one to focus on the music rather than struggling against the instrument."

 

If you were part of the jury, who would you prefer?

"The first one, with a lot of volume but somewhat uncontrolled, or the second one, with less power but a much more precise phrasing?"

 

I would be clear about it. And you, what do you think?

I am Toni Romera and I look forward to your comments, see you very soon.

Greetings and lots of music