Maybe the Last Time on the Wheel of Doom

Lessons are coming along.  We're moving beyond the basics, which have been more helpful than one could imagine.  Granted, the clouds haven't parted and the angels aren't singing, but it has definitely put me on a slightly different road.  My daily routine is different, my breathing is different, my mouthpiece angle is different ... and now my mouthpiece is different.

We were lucky to get a BIG room in which to try out mouthpieces.  I went through about a dozen.  We settled on two -- one was no surprise, one was a big surprise.

The players in the test included Marcinkiewicz, Houghton, Stork, Schilke, Giardinelli, Laskey, and the two we settled on.

The first to cross the finish line was the Breslmair Wien 2F4-4.5 S.  Yes, that's a mouthful.  This one was supplied by my teacher.   It's a custom mouthpiece that has a lot of advantages.  It's very conical and the rim is rather thin.  When playing it, my sound feels very BIG.  Notes slot a little better and intonation is a little easier.   But it does feel a little unstable and endurance is not great.

The second, or the big surprise, was the Conn 7BW.  It's comfier than the Breslmair.  Oddly, when practicing it feels a little restricted.  But put it in an open room and it projects like crazy.

I was favoring the Breslmair during my shake-down period, but then band started back.  Now the Conn is edging ahead.

I hate the Wheel of Doom, but I'm determined that this will be the last time!!!!