Why should I buzz on an alto horn mouthpiece?

The use of large mouthpiece buzzing at the beginning of the trumpet warm-up is not new.  Professionals who play heavily every night, know that their chops may be swollen the next morning.  In order to reduce that swelling, we use the large mouthpiece to achieve a very relaxed buzz in order to drive the access fluid from the embouchure muscles (chops).  We usually use terms like ‘tight‘ or ‘stiff‘ or ‘fat’.  Never the less, it’s swelling.  Buzzing on a trumpet mouthpiece will work to reduce that swelling, but it takes a long time.  The use of a small trombone mouthpiece may be too big; thus the use of the alto horn mouthpiece.  The Bach #3 Alto Horn Mouthpiece is larger than the largest trumpet mouthpiece, but smaller than the smallest trombone mouthpiece.

The way we warm-up each day is controlled by what we did to ourselves the day before.  If we had a normal playing day yesterday, then the work on the alto horn mouthpiece should take 2-3 minutes playing the exercises that are outlined in Appendix I of “A Mouthpiece Buzzing Routine for Trumpet”.

How much does the Bach 3 Alto Horn Mouthpiece cost?

The cost is $36.95 each. Shipping is calculated from your location.

The Bach #3 Alto Horn Mouthpiece

Buzzing with the Bach #3 Alto Horn Mouthpiece