Of all the parts of the brass instrument, one part that seems to get both the most and least respect is the mouthpiece. Most players have several, can rattle off numbers imprinted on the side of them, and yet their maintenance is probably the least done.
There are really only 5 parts to each mouthpiece, each having a different roll. We're not going to get into how variation in shape or size affect how they play, as that could be endlessly talked about and there are entire mouthpiece catalogues that detail that. Rather, let's break the mouthpiece down into these parts to understand them.
Firstly, there's the rim. basically, this is the part where lips meet instrument. Rounded or more flat, this is the part of the instrument that can most affect how an instrument feels. The human lips are so sensitive they can feel a roughness difference of microns. Yes, microns. This means that any scratches, dings, dents, or gouges that happen will affect how you play. They can be removed to varying degrees, but this will result in removing metal, and that will affect how it feels on your mouth. We've all heard the mouthpiece that falls on the floor right before a performance, and most brass players will cringe once they do. keep a handle on them, and life will just be less stressful for the rim.
The next 3 sections are easy to address together, as they make up the interior of the mouthpiece. The cup, the throat and the backbore are in sequence from the rim to the other end. the biggest thing about this section is to keep things clean. The cup also makes some contact with the mouth, so cleanliness there is important for hygiene reasons. Once the throat starts to get dirty, it can impact how easy the mouthpiece is to play. The backbore also needs to be clean, as build up there can start to also impact air flow, plus will also break away and stick to the leadpipe. For these sections, a mouthpiece brush is all that is needed to clean it, using warm soapy water. These are extremely cheap from most places that sell instruments. Only 5 minutes of cleaning once a month can not only help keep your instrument cleaner, but will also decrease the chance of any illness from the bacteria, germs and moisture. It is a also a good rule to clean the mouthpiece frequently if you are sick, so as to get rid of any germs and bacteria that could cause a recurrence.
Lastly, there is the shank. The shank is the part of the mouthpiece that connects it to the instrument. It has a taper that fits in the receiver, ensuring that the airtight seal transfers all the sound to the horn. The biggest cause for problems here is dirt or dents. Either one can lead to a stuck mouthpiece. Every player has had this problem. If this happens, don't panic, and never reach for pliers. More often than not, it will only rip the lead pipe off the instrument, mangle the lead pipe, or do some other damage that will lead to a costly repair, and still won't un-stick the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is stuck, most repair shops will remove the mouthpiece, and hardly every charge if it comes out in just a few minutes (your local shop may have a different policy about this, and that is their right). Even if the mouthpiece is stuck, the horn will most likely still be playable, which means this is no where near an emergency. If it happens before a gig, play the gig and get it fixed later. Better to wait for a professional to take 2 minutes to remove it (with 90 seconds being getting the tool out and setting it up) than to have to buy a new lead pipe and have it installed while straightening the bent tuning slides parts.
The biggest part of your mouthpiece maintenance comes down to consideration. Don't leave it in the instrument, don't force it into the receiver, clean it with some degree of regularity, and just make sure you're not being careless with it. If not cared for, the repairs and maintenance could be costly when something goes wrong.
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