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This article is reprinted and by, my dear friend and mentor, Mark Van Cleave.
How to Choose a Trumpet Mouthpiece
Every trumpet player seems to have a shoe box hidden somewhere in the dark corner of their closet that contains all of the many attempts at finding the perfect mouthpiece. One that has a great sound, [...]

The Idea of playing efficiently is one of the most sought after skills that seems to elude brass players. The whole idea of not having to work hard to produce the results you want is pervasive in every part of our society. How can I get what I want without working for it! …..or at least working as little as possible. When it comes to playing a brass instrument, the idea of how to get the best sound per grunt ratio is very important, being able to play well without paying a high price physically.

One of the biggest problems with developing trumpet players is the way they neglect to use all of the tools they have to accomplish their goals…

I always hated to practice as a kid. My folks would do their best to pressure me to sit in my bedroom on a summer day and play my trumpet, “you have to practice before you can go out and play” etc. It wasn’t until high school that I first started enjoying playing the trumpet. I actually wanted to practice. My folks changed to “you have to mow the lawn before you can practice”…

As a trumpet teacher, I have always pondered over this question: Is it possible to increase a persons innate musicianship or musical potential. While in College, I recorded recitals as a way of making a little extra money. This afforded me the opportunity to listen to many more recitals and performances than I would have normally attended. Some good, some not so good. Many of these were trumpet recitals…