From Euphonium to Trumpet

[Daniel8802]

Hi All -

Hopefully you will be able to help some. My cousin is getting married at the end of the month, and he wants me to play my trumpet at his wedding . I've played trumpet for about 6 years, but haven't been playing it so much since Euphonium is my main instrument. Since it's wedding music, I will be playing with the organ and some of the parts get pretty high in range. I have pretty good control, but because of the huge mouthpiece changes, I'm suffering a little bit. Can anyone offer any adivce to help me get my trumpet chops back? Any advice would be great ... thanks!!

[Daniel8802]

Thanks ... I've been using the Gold Vicenet Bach 7C mouthpiece as well as a gold 7C megatone. Do you mean buzz with just the mouthpiece in my hand? Thanks again.

[windshieldbug]

I went from tuba to play trumpet at my sister's wedding. FWIW (what worked for me):

1. Get the biggest and largest diameter trumpet MP you can stand (to make it as familiar as you can, but still have the range); I used a Bach 1.
2. Work up to playing well, but remember, you'll only need to have endurance for the tunes you're doing; you don't need to work up a band rehearsal's worth. I practiced the music for 1/2 hr only. Often, but I was only looking to be accurate for an hour.
3. Remember to keep the air moving and make a well-supported the sound, don't be tenative in the least. If you play weak, you'll sound weak, and it might lead to exactly what you don't want to happen.
4. Make music, express your joy, and add to the ceremony.

Oddly enough, for me it went well, and I actually got an invitation from the organist to return and play a prelude. No, I never told anyone that it was far from my primary instrument. I would suggest that you work to that as your goal, as well.

[Chuck(G)]

Stick with the euph and tack an octave doubler onto it. With the shades drawn and the lights out, they'll never know the difference.

[RyanMcGeorge]

Play euphonium instead. It's a better instrument.

[windshieldbug]

If you play the trumpet, then you have to keep reminding the organist how much better a musician you are!

[jeopardymaster]

Instead of torturing yourself, you could throw money at the problem. Get yourself an electronic brass instrument (EBI). Those jobbies can sound like anything -- even a trumpet.

[MaryAnn]

Interesting aside on cup size; guy sitting next to me in a band is in his 60's, coming back to horn playing, was having lots of trouble with his high range. He also has false teeth now and that was giving him fits; prevents the use of any substantial pressure (which is a good thing, but sometimes the left biceps habit kicks in anyway; I saw him knock his teeth out of place a couple times.)

But I digress. He was using an MDC, which is a pretty standard Holton horn mouthpiece, because he thought that was what he used to play on. Then he sort of remembered maybe it wasn't an MDC but an MC, which is a slightly shallower, but wider, cup. I had one I sold him, and his range returned immediately. It was amazing what a difference that tiny (to a tuba player) change in mouthpiece cup width did for him. I've read recently that a wider cup actually works better for some players who just need more lip inside the cup to have it work right, and seeing his experience sure showed me that could be true.

MA

[OldsRecording]

Even though these days I play mostly trumpet (and some flute), I am able to pick up the euph or even tuba without too much trouble. I use a Bach 1 1/4c. My advice would be to just work on your endurance gradually, and have fun with it. I know trumpets are small, but they are not evil.

[Chuck(G)]

At the expense of sounding serious, I have a question that I think cuts right to the heart of the matter.

Why?

Euphonium is the instrument that you're the best at, why give the guests your second-best? It just doesn't make sense. If you'd been asked to learn oboe in two weeks to play in a public performance, would you?

[windshieldbug]

Doc (who assumed anything "trumpet" was off-topic enough for humor)

(Perhaps even enough for food! ... )

[Daniel8802]

I was hoping people wouldn't get upset lol :\ ... Well thanks for the some that helped and offered responces!

[iiipopes]

Proper mouthpiece to embouchure fit is important. After (mumble) years away from it, and after having played lead trumpet in high school, I actually found myself needing to play 2nd trumpet parts on occasion when all three of us trench dwellers showed up and not enough high brass in Shrine band. So, I bought a Besson 2-20 trumpet off eBay in perfect shape, including case, lyre, leather guard on the valve block, etc., for all of $76 including shipping. But my old early Selmer/Bach 3C that is larger than a current 3C that I had soared above the clouds with in high school just was not making it, like the french horn guy above. After some experimentation and research, I got a Schilke 15C4, which is similar, so has a good bowl for good tone, but the rim is a tad wider for more comfort, a slightly "softer" inner rim that is more forgiving for me at this point, and a 26 throat instead of the Bach standard 27 throat, so I can get more air through it, now that I'm primarily a trench dweller. I'll probably never play lead trumpet again, but when I have to play 2nd trumpet, I'm in tune with great tone and I can actually make it through the gig without resorting to any bad habits.

[OldsRecording]

If you'd been asked to learn oboe in two weeks to play in a public performance, would you?

That sounds like a pretty cool challenge! Although, if I had to play the Strauss Oboe Concerto or some such, I might need an extra week or two...