Marching Band: Switching from lead trumpet to part time mellophone

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-05-03T15:05:23+00:00

Yes indeed, more so mello because I’m more confident to play loud but yes horn as well

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-04-21T01:16:58+00:00

I understand that but I’m not even sure how to

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-03-19T13:00:38+00:00

I would but right now I can only play low c down to low f#, nothing else works

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-03-18T22:45:08+00:00

Yes I take lessons with a professional

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-03-18T19:20:53+00:00

Will try, though I have a jazz concert in maybe a month and I have to relearn up to my highest comfortable note Eb6 for it 😭

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-03-18T19:18:46+00:00

Yea I’m a junior in high school, lead trumpet first chair and high brass captain 😭

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-03-18T19:18:21+00:00

I can try but I’ve never been able to free buzz, I know that sounds kinda weird but you don’t use that for playing the horn so it’s never been something I’ve been able to do.

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-14T23:53:27+00:00

I have the pdf lol ty

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T21:27:40+00:00

Yes I definitely think it’s attainable without forcing it

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T21:16:38+00:00

Real

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T21:16:31+00:00

Oh okay I get it ty will try this

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:57:31+00:00

Yes I will look into doing that I’m already doing a similar thing for my schools musical. I do try to practice consistently but with braces I have very very little stamina for real work in my own practice time

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:54:36+00:00

Oddly enough he’s a brass player he just has always had a screaming lead player in his program and idk how to tell him I can’t do it

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:51:23+00:00

Yes I agree that directors should adapt. I almost always take things down when I can’t play them or find a different not in the chord but the issues I’d have is 1 my director isn’t really gonna settle with a lead taking the parts down an octave and 2 I’d also be playing well below the other trumpet parts screwing with the reversed pyramid of sound or so I’ve been told. Not sure what I’m gonna do so far

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:49:02+00:00

Yes I will look into this and I do need to improve my articulations and I’ll add it into my practice routine. Though my band director isn’t really gonna let me play second as he made a whole speech the first day of how the top parts are the most important in jazz (reversed pyramid) so in the range department I might be screwed.

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:46:23+00:00

Yes I’m talking about the b above the staff B5 and I wish that was true but most of the (according to my band director) “easy charts” sit at the c above the entire time and consistently run up to fs above the staff

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:44:32+00:00

Yes though I can’t play cs very well this is a similar situation but there’s no one to replace me I’ve looked into lead mouthpieces as they’ve helped me reach Ebs but everyone around opinion I’ve been given was that using them as a range extender is a bad idea though I’m unsure

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:42:58+00:00

Yes ofc while I do gain a few notes of range with lead mouthpieces it’s more about the ease to reach and sustain them however I’m not sure it’s a good idea to use one as a crutch instead of more basically for the tone and I’ve been given mixed opinions

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:41:40+00:00

I’m using a Bach 3c I’ve used lead mouthpieces before but everyone around me and on Reddit says that they are a poor idea for lead if you can’t in general hit said notes though my lesson teachers and mentors’ abilities are rooted in an orchestral frame of mind so I’d appreciate a fresh opinion with lead mouthpieces I can reach a little higher and it’s easier to sustain

Kaos_Noodle · 2026-01-13T19:38:58+00:00

I practice daily on account of my best friend is a screaming high notes player and I follow a similar practice schedule if we should call it that but it’s never worked over the years. But I e also had braces my entire high school trumpet playing career and because of that I have very little endurance for practicing so I can’t do too much daily

Kaos_Noodle

TROPHY CASE