System Inconsistencies
"My impression
is that quite often in forum discussions the tail is wagging the dog. Or, forum
participants are often blind men, (women), touching different parts of the
elephant and describing what they experience. I don’t say this to criticize…just
to say that it is hard to see beyond what we know. I believe we need a different
approach to looking at how embouchure meets rim, meets cup, bore, backbore, gap,
leadpipe, tuning slide, and tuning slide gaps; these are all dependant
variables.
As a system, there are inconsistencies every step of the way. I think that
usually we modify consistencies or inconsistencies in one area to compensate for
inconsistencies in another. The results may or may not help. Real
solutions…perceived solutions…mysticism…physics…resistance, impedance, tapers
and gaps. Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!
I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. I do believe there are systemic issues
that could be addressed here that would add light and direction to discussions
of the parts."
From Mouthpiece through the Valves.
That is only a small part of the big
picture. More like “Setting up a Standing Wave in an Air Column”. To get
your hands around this you must start basic. A tube opened at one end and your
lips at the other end. The molecules of the Air Column are agitated, when set
into phase they create a standing wave. This is comprised of a longitudinal
sound wave vs the traverse sound wave found in the string instruments.
The air column starts with the lips opening/closing or exciting the molecules,
they travel to the bell area, hit a barrier (it moves depending on the harmonic,
the higher the pitch the closer to the bell rim) and are reflected back setting
up the standing wave.
“As a system, there are inconsistencies every step of the way.”
The word “inconsistencies” doesn’t define this enough to put a value or number
on it. It is a complex equation and must equal, Mouthpiece, Player, and
Instrument. We have mathematical tools for this but they take lots of time
and that costs money. We do the best we can to make enough mouthpieces as do
other mouthpiece and horn Mfg to statistically cover an area of the population.
The real inconsistency comes with the players, no two are alike, and therefore,
the same equipment will not perform the same for each player. You purchase a
horn that one great player uses and it doesn’t work for you. Why? You are
different, not the same acoustically, and probably have different requirements
to create the same match with equipment and standing wave. To fully explain what
we have learned would take years to organize and publish. That information would
probably be useless math and confusing at best so I will try to give you a
template or guide to the process.
The Scientific Approach To Selecting The Proper Equipment!
• Simple Science- A basic understanding of how the trumpet works.
• GR’s 3 Rules of Brass Playing- Understanding and troubleshooting Brass Playing
using a systematic approach.
• Mouthpiece and Trumpet Science- Mouthpiece education using GR’s new way of
thinking. Use any systematic approach that works, your choice.
• Application of Knowledge- Applying what we have learned and using Diagnostic
Testing to make good decisions.
“I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. I do believe there are systemic
issues that could be addressed here that would add light and direction to
discussions of the parts.”
There is your systematic approach above. This is the technique GR trained
consultants use to find the best match.
“I think that usually we modify consistencies or inconsistencies in one area
to compensate for inconsistencies in another.”
Let’s drop all the word consistencies and inconsistencies, what do you have
left? Modify and compensate! The key is how do we modify and how does the player
compensate?
We use the Diagnostic Testing or
Playing Tests to determine this. It also involves some intellectual property
such as programs and analysis guides we don’t share at this point.
“The results may or may not help. Real solutions…perceived
solutions…mysticism…physics…resistance, impedance, tapers and gaps. Lions,
tigers, and bears, oh my”
Find someone you trust, go through the process, and look for results. Then
document it. People change and you may have to repeat the process in the future!
See Rule #3 of GR's Three Rules of Brass Playing:
3. There must be a match between the player, horn, and mouthpiece. If one
changes the others must be able to accommodate the change or be changed as well.