Mouthpiece EXTREME frustration!!! Help needed!!!

[phyllisfeldpush]

Not sure if it's the mouthpiece or my embrouchure.
I have been playing since January. I am a female, and my mouth is on the small side.:cry: :cry:
Started with a Yamaha 4c that came withe the sax.
After 4 months, my teacher said I was ready to move on - the sound was not that great.
I tried the Brilhart 5*, I just could not maintain the embrouchure. It felt like the mouthpiece was the wrong shape for my mouth if that makes any sense.Kept leaking air, even with a 1 1/2 reed!
I changed to a Selmer C* which is working better, but it still feels like it is the wrong shape for my mouth, that's the best I can describe it. It just doesn't seem to fit right.
I don't think it's the reed , I can easilly use a 3 on my original mouthpiece, and backed off to a 2 for the other 2 mouthpieces.
Any ideas would be much appreciated - I am so frustrated I have considered quitting- I feel like I'm getting worse not better.
Thanks, Phyllis

[kcp]

Are you playing alto?

Anyway for alto saxophone my mpc chart says:
Yamaha 4c = 63 (thousandths of inch)
Brilhart 5* = 80
Selmer C* = 65

According to this, I think that switching you to the Brilhart right away was a bad idea. The Selmer C* is more within a reasonable range for now. - Of course it always take a little bit of time to adapt but also it isn't because some mouthpiece is right for your teacher that it means that it is right for you.

After 4 months, my teacher said I was ready to move on - the sound was not that great.
What makes your teacher say that?
I say give the Selmer C* a little bit of time to adapt - If not, go back to the Yamaha 4C and tell your teacher to go take a hike. When you will be ready to switch to another mouthpiece, you'll know it.:)

[phyllisfeldpush]

Kim, Yes, I'm playing Alto Sax.
My teacher thought my original mouthpiece did not sound good after awhile, and I agree. I stuck with the Brilhart for over 2 months and feel like I developed a bad embrouchure because the mouthpiece was just not right for me. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll stick it out with the Selmer for awhile.
Phyllis

[Bill Mecca]

Phyllis,

Just to clarify, is it more difficult to play (tip opening etc) or is it more the outside dimensions? if the latter, a more streamline mpc would work, not sure as I haven't played alto in a very long time, but runyon customs are a bit smaller in outside dimension, and I think the Morgan Protone might be as well.

[Saxland]

I know the frustration she is talking about. I have the same problem at times with meyer type pieces due to my facial muscle's being tired. I have dental bite issues being dealt with, but until they are resolved I have the tired muscles. I have a piece that lets my face rest in the right position and warms up the muscles. A Lelandais Streamline mouthpiece. Its like playing a clarinet piece. It is a very small mouthpiece. Very rounded. I have also taken a tenor piece and played it on alto so that there is less pressure and then once the muscles relax I go back to the meyer.

I used to take bite pads and build them up around a meyer alto mouthpiece so I would have a more rounded ombosure. To me it seemed shape was more important.


I Hope this helps.

[kcp]

Phyllis,

Just to clarify, is it more difficult to play (tip opening etc) or is it more the outside dimensions? if the latter, a more streamline mpc would work...

I tend to agree with Bill on this but I still feel that switching you to a different mpc, espescially to one with a tip size of 80 after just 4 months of playing was too radical. Although I agree too that the Yamaha 4C may have been a little bit too closed-up.

Like I said, you may want to stick with the Selmer C* for a while or go for a Brilhart 4* wich is smaller but like Bill says, it's possible that a more streamline mpc would work better.

Runyon Custom is a good example of such streamline mpc. But back to the tip opening, the "average" tip opening for altoists (wich varies according to experience, style, ect) varies between 75 and 85 thousandths of inch. So if you wanna invest in a Runyon Custom wich is not that expensive(around 75 or 80$ USD) but still, You would need at least a size 6 (77 thousandths of inch)

You can always return the mpc if it doesn't fit. Or you can opt for an "in-between" mpc, in that case I'd suggest the Runyon Model22 size #5 (73 thousandths of inch) it's only 30$ USD - Several of my boyfriend's beginner students had great results with the Model22. Among other, one of his student in particular was struggling with the Runyon Custom 6 and in his case the Model22 size 5 turned-out to be perfect.

Regardless of what you choose to do, keep in mind that it takes a little time to get used to a new mpc and that you shouldn't have to change mpc if you don't want to or if you don't feel ready to.

[phyllisfeldpush]

Great feedback! Definitely, it feels like the problem is the outside dimension.
I'm going to look into the Runyon Custom.
I take lessons in my little hometown,I'm not sure this teacher is for me at this point. I think he mostly teaches school-aged kids, and has a "one-method fits all" approach to teaching.
Thanks again for your help,
Phyllis

[usda]

Not much MP experience...but what I have noticed...

I got an old Beuscher tru tone stincel...a Werlitzer. The MP was a Rico Royal B5. I early on bought a LinK tone master 5 star. I have no idea of the openings.

But the metal link gave a dark subdued horn, a brightness, a loudness that is much more pleasing to me. The ebonite mp just doesn't project. I do not find control a problem.

Anyone with numbers of these openings...I would be glad to know it.

Would a 7 link offer anything new?

I use a 2 1/2 Rico Royal reed...and sand a little.

[MojoBari]

I'm just reading these off a WW&BW catalog chart:

Alto:
Rico Royal 5 = .080"
Link 5* = .070"
Links 7 = .085"

Tenor:
Rico Royal 5 = .095"
Link 5* = .085"
Links 7 = .100"

Generally one uses softer reeds with more open tips to get a similar blowing resistance as a harder reed with a more closed tip.