"Mouthpieces cannot help you do something that you can NOT already do. They only make what you CAN already do easier. For example, if you can play a double C on ANY mouthpiece, then using a shallow mouthpiece will only make it easier. If you can NOT play a double C on ANY mouthpiece, then you won't be able to play it on a shallow mouthpiece.  Just curious to see how many of you have ever heard something similar and how you feel about it?"

GR: The mouthpiece can't give you abilities that you were not born with. Each person is born with a certain potential physically and intellectually but we are not equal. Certain people develop that potential and others do not. To develop this potential on the trumpet there are certain keys to development. Some of these keys are desire, work ethic, good teachers, common sense, ability to learn, physical coordination, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, as well as, a match between the player, mouthpiece, and horn.

Therefore, if Michael Jordan gave you his shoes and said, "JUMP". You would notice a few things, the shoes would not fit and you could not jump like Mike. If the shoes were in your correct size and fit properly you might be able to run, stop, and start more efficiently without hurting your feet. The shoe would allow you to develop your potential but not give you potential you were not born with. Development comes from the keys mentioned above; desire, work ethic, good teachers, common sense, ability to learn, physical coordination, knowing your strengths and weaknesses etc.

The match between the player, horn, and mouthpiece is very important. To set up the standing wave in the trumpet these must work as a system. The incorrect match can cause the player to manipulate to make a poor match work. The problems from over manipulation will usually show up in poor tone, poor accuracy, poor intonation, and poor efficiency.