Mouthpiece right size

[jaywalker]

I'm new to trombone (a former sax player learning a new instrument ).
I'm experimenting with mouthpieces.
I go it down to 24,7-25mm rim.
Currently on Curry 7S & 6M.
With 7S I can play 2 partials higher, with 6M the bottom is much more solid and smoother.
With 7S I feel like I'm "out of the mouthpiece" with 6M it's like a glove.
Should I stick with the 6M and work on the muscles to get the high tones, thus keeping the low?
Thanks

[Kevbach33]

Welcome to trombone!

Curry's S cup is intended for lead playing, according to their site. The M cup seems to be more of an "all around" type.

Since you say the 6M fits your face better (like a glove, as you say) I'd say stick with that. It's a solid size (roughly a Bach 6½AL equivalent) for a new player, and will allow you access to all registers as you develop while keeping a solid low range (2nd and 3rd partials).

Do you have a lessons teacher yet?

[harrisonreed]

It's not really about building muscles. If you're new, stick with a 6 and work on controlling the direction of the air and the embouchure aperture. With a teach', of course!

[jaywalker]

I do have a teacher and I watch a lot of online trombone teachers, testing their different approaches to see what clicks. This is my 6th instrument over 40 years.
Piano ( Conservatory/Composition ), Guitar (rock band), Drums ( polka band ), Fujara ( large upright wooden flute / folklore & jazz ), Sax ( ska ), Trombone ( future Electronica Lounge ).
I like to experiment a lot, I'm not in a rush and overall going for sound quality more than fast up and down. I enjoy long tones.
Any other suggestions are welcomed

PS. I'm scheduling a session with Doug Elliot to help with this as well.

[jaywalker]

To arrive where I am now, I got:
Bach 12c, 11c, 6 1/2AL, Getzen 12c, DW 6BS, 7CS, 10C, 10C Heritage, Curry 11C, 7S, 7C, 7M, 6M


I know ... I'm a data engineer, can't help it, have to acquire the data myself ...
With each, I learned more and more about what I wanted and what not so much.

[Reedman1]

The Curry 6M is a very nice mouthpiece. I agree that sticking with a comfortable mouthpiece and working on getting the most out of it is the best approach. The additional partials will come with time and study. You don’t want to force them, and if you try to have a mouthpiece do the work for you, that mouthpiece will probably take away from a full, resonant sound in the lower register.

[JeffBone44]

Great decision to schedule a lesson with Doug E, he will have you headed in the right direction, and you will learn a lot about how your embouchure works. Good luck!

What everyone else said - stick with the 6M if that feels comfortable. Personally, I've always found it easier to play a mouthpiece with a large rim. My low range is more secure and reliable, and I've been able to build my high range over time.

[jaywalker]

Thanks @Reedman1 & @JeffBone44 , after the call with Doug I'm back at the beginning... starting from scratch ... I will keep posting here my progress ... right now back to simple buzzing

[iranzi]

It's not really about building muscles. If you're new, stick with a 6 and work on controlling the direction of the air and the embouchure aperture. With a teach', of course!

This is great advice, i'll take it! never seen these two things put together like that. This sort of focus - very useful. Most exercises i've seen also claim to focus on one or two issues, but there's always too much going on there. It would be possible to turn such exercises into 10 further exercises just to cover all the basics.
. . .

2 things_.jpg

oh, hi! i'm also a saxophone player learning trombone. nice to meet you!

[Georg]

JayWalker, How is your quest for a mouthpiece going? Any new developments?