This is NOT a negative comment. I played conventional mouthpieces for 30 years before investigating Monette. For me the transition took patience and fortitude and it was not easy. Conventional equipment made me, for lack of a better description, “a brute force player.” I had enough air to make anything work. To acclimate to Monette I had to learn to trust a reduced yet more focused air stream. Believe it or not the transition was accelerated by taking the trumpet out of the equation and buzzing my mouthpiece to the radio in the car for about a month.
TL;DW: "You might think that mouthpieces with massive throats would require lots more air to play, make the upper register a struggle, and potentially have wacky tuning, but in reality, we make all our Prana mouthpieces from solid wizard jizz so that doesn't apply."
Hi Cleb Pensoza! If you haven't done so yet, just email bj@monette.net or call the shop at 503-255-5552 to schedule your shop visit. We look forward to having you here!
Getting mine tomorrow in the mail! I originally play a 3C Bach, so I ordered a B6S1 Resonance Prana. I hope to make a video someday explaining the process and weather the hype is real (I surely hope so). Edit : (Sorry for the long post, but I'm really digging what I'm hearing from this mp.) OMG OMG OMG!! Just got mine! Its a beautiful mouthpiece. And, I was eager to see what it did. So, of course, I went and tried to play up to the highest note I could play (without squirming). Normally I could squeak a double C and maybe the notes above. With this mp, I was able to do that pretty easily. Still no gut-busters but man, do they come out much easier. Here are some observations (after 20-30 mins of playing). 1. Immediately I noticed something different. Now I know what they meant by "pitch center". I was playing low of it and noticed that I had to adjust my focus a bit higher in the mp. When I did that, I found that going up and down the scale felt a little different. I was able to slot the higher notes better. The higher notes also felt brighter. Just like the video, who would've thought. 2. It won't really add to your range. Just enhance what you can do. I can't constantly hit double Cs throughout my practice. More like double Gs I could hit. But, with the Bach I can hit it at the beginning of practice. The Prana, it looks like I can always go back to the G anytime I want. Its fantastic. That said, because of the ease of use, it feels like I can start working on techniques to improve the buzzing action to go beyond. 3. The airflow is a bit different now, so I'm noticing that different parts of my embouchure are getting 'activated' because of the change. Its not a good thing, or bad thing, just an observation. So far so good. I have 14 days to play around with it before I decide to send it back. I'm not going to do that. This mp is great! I may make a follow-up video in a week or two to give my final verdict. Edit 2 : I decided to try one more thing. Not reset myself when I go up. That is keep my low range setting and just let the note happen. I'm working on a Scholossburg exercise and can hit above a double C without changing my setting. OMG, I'm not sending this thing back! Its worth trying out ladies and gentlemen.
Hi Jay! Thanks for all your commentary! I'm glad to hear your Prana mouthpiece is working well for you! It sounds like you've settled in and figured out that less tension and less physical adjustment makes everything pretty effortless on a Monette mouthpiece, especially a Prana. Let us know if we can help you with anything else!
I'm about to get my first Monette mouthpiece in the mail and I'm so very excited too! It's going to be a Prana Resonance B4S S2 (I usually play the Bach 1 1/2C).
It varies with different sizes, weights, and shanks. Often for a standard weight and standard size, a Prana mouthpiece for Bb trumpet will have a 17 throat, and a smaller lead mouthpieces in a lighter weight will have a 21. As is explained in the video, a larger throat size in a Prana mouthpiece is a much different thing than opening out the throat on a traditional mouthpiece. And a common myth is that a Prana mouthpiece 'takes more air to play.' This is not true.
Ok, so.. A normal Stc will be most reliable for someone without proper posture/airflow.easier to not slip into other octaves etc. If you have proper posture airflow etc prana is the way to go?
Hi Gary. Visiting us here at the shop is best because we can work with you one-on-one and you can try various mouthpieces and instruments. If you'd like to schedule a shop visit, just email bj@monette.net. If visiting us is not feasible right now, we are happy to provide free mouthpiece consultations by phone or email. It is usually not necessary to send us a mouthpiece, but sometimes it does help. Email bj@monette.net or call us at 503-255-5552 and we can discuss some options for you.
Im so confused as a guy just starting to play Trumpet. I see a lot say use bach 7C , then I see one guy on youtube saying throw them away and get a 3E, what do you guys say about starter mp ? I have what I would say is thin lips. With normal size mouth . I have play Alto Sax many years ago. Help please
Hello Smokey Dragon! Our size B6 S1 is extremely popular and would be an ideal size to get started with. It is considered comparable in size to the conventional size 3C. If you have further questions, just shoot me an email: bj@monette.net. You can call us here at the shop as well: 503-255-5552.
Some mellophones do use trumpet mouthpieces, but others take a different shank size. If you have an instrument that accepts a trumpet mouthpiece and functions well with a trumpet mouthpiece, then yes - you can use a Monette Prana mouthpiece on your mellophone.
I have tried a couple of Prana mouthpieces (BLMR and B7F) and found that I have a lot of air or fuzz in the sound. How should I approach it differently to maximize the benefits?
Hi Patrick! Prana mouthpieces, while playing with a hugely resonant sound and wide dynamic range, can also be a bit unforgiving of any inconsistencies in a player's approach, in a way that other, tighter feeling mouthpieces may better allow. They have a more open feel than most other kinds of mouthpieces, and so sometimes airiness is caused by the player's embouchure being a bit spread and/or over-blowing. The key is to use your ears and have the sound in mind that you want to create, and also a physical approach that allows you to create that sound most effortlessly. This involves proper alignment -- keeping the head back over the spine and the chin low so that the throat is not constricted, unlocking the knees when standing, and not pushing the hips forward -- and releasing any unnecessary tension in the body. Most players who back off a bit and try not to work too hard will start to find the Prana working better and better for them. I hope this is helpful! You can email me for more info: bj@monette.net
Hola! Thank you for watching our video! For a size comparable to the 3C, we highly recommend the Resonance B6 S1. Contact our shop for more info. You can email BJ: bj@monette.net.
This is NOT a negative comment. I played conventional mouthpieces for 30 years before investigating Monette. For me the transition took patience and fortitude and it was not easy. Conventional equipment made me, for lack of a better description, “a brute force player.” I had enough air to make anything work.
To acclimate to Monette I had to learn to trust a reduced yet more focused air stream. Believe it or not the transition was accelerated by taking the trumpet out of the equation and buzzing my mouthpiece to the radio in the car for about a month.
TL;DW: "You might think that mouthpieces with massive throats would require lots more air to play, make the upper register a struggle, and potentially have wacky tuning, but in reality, we make all our Prana mouthpieces from solid wizard jizz so that doesn't apply."
Would love to see how you develop a mouthpiece. Calculations, simulations, testing and stuff like that.
I’m making an appointment Monday to possibly come in Friday! Hope I can start playing more freely and more professional
Hi Cleb Pensoza! If you haven't done so yet, just email bj@monette.net or call the shop at 503-255-5552 to schedule your shop visit. We look forward to having you here!
Getting mine tomorrow in the mail! I originally play a 3C Bach, so I ordered a B6S1 Resonance Prana.
I hope to make a video someday explaining the process and weather the hype is real (I surely hope so).
Edit : (Sorry for the long post, but I'm really digging what I'm hearing from this mp.)
OMG OMG OMG!! Just got mine! Its a beautiful mouthpiece. And, I was eager to see what it did. So, of course, I went and tried to play up to the highest note I could play (without squirming). Normally I could squeak a double C and maybe the notes above. With this mp, I was able to do that pretty easily. Still no gut-busters but man, do they come out much easier.
Here are some observations (after 20-30 mins of playing).
1. Immediately I noticed something different. Now I know what they meant by "pitch center". I was playing low of it and noticed that I had to adjust my focus a bit higher in the mp. When I did that, I found that going up and down the scale felt a little different. I was able to slot the higher notes better. The higher notes also felt brighter. Just like the video, who would've thought.
2. It won't really add to your range. Just enhance what you can do. I can't constantly hit double Cs throughout my practice. More like double Gs I could hit. But, with the Bach I can hit it at the beginning of practice. The Prana, it looks like I can always go back to the G anytime I want. Its fantastic. That said, because of the ease of use, it feels like I can start working on techniques to improve the buzzing action to go beyond.
3. The airflow is a bit different now, so I'm noticing that different parts of my embouchure are getting 'activated' because of the change. Its not a good thing, or bad thing, just an observation.
So far so good. I have 14 days to play around with it before I decide to send it back. I'm not going to do that. This mp is great! I may make a follow-up video in a week or two to give my final verdict.
Edit 2 :
I decided to try one more thing. Not reset myself when I go up. That is keep my low range setting and just let the note happen. I'm working on a Scholossburg exercise and can hit above a double C without changing my setting. OMG, I'm not sending this thing back! Its worth trying out ladies and gentlemen.
Hi Jay! Thanks for all your commentary! I'm glad to hear your Prana mouthpiece is working well for you! It sounds like you've settled in and figured out that less tension and less physical adjustment makes everything pretty effortless on a Monette mouthpiece, especially a Prana. Let us know if we can help you with anything else!
I'm about to get my first Monette mouthpiece in the mail and I'm so very excited too! It's going to be a Prana Resonance B4S S2 (I usually play the Bach 1 1/2C).
well-made video, good presentation
hello good evening I'm looking for monette mouthpiece B4S3 I would like to know what its value is
I love my prana
I play a b flat trumpet do you guys make a b flat mouthpiece
what is the throat size on prana mouthpieces for Bb Trumpet?
It varies with different sizes, weights, and shanks. Often for a standard weight and standard size, a Prana mouthpiece for Bb trumpet will have a 17 throat, and a smaller lead mouthpieces in a lighter weight will have a 21. As is explained in the video, a larger throat size in a Prana mouthpiece is a much different thing than opening out the throat on a traditional mouthpiece. And a common myth is that a Prana mouthpiece 'takes more air to play.' This is not true.
Do y’all only make trumpet mouthpieces or do you also make mouthpieces for other brass instruments, in my case euphonium?
We also make low brass mouthpieces, including for Euphonium. Feel free to contact the shop for help selecting a mouthpiece. stc@monette.net
Ok, so.. A normal Stc will be most reliable for someone without proper posture/airflow.easier to not slip into other octaves etc. If you have proper posture airflow etc prana is the way to go?
If I send in one of my mouthpieces, can you make a recommendation on a Prana or Resonance, or is it better to fly out to the shop? I live in Atlanta.
Hi Gary. Visiting us here at the shop is best because we can work with you one-on-one and you can try various mouthpieces and instruments. If you'd like to schedule a shop visit, just email bj@monette.net.
If visiting us is not feasible right now, we are happy to provide free mouthpiece consultations by phone or email. It is usually not necessary to send us a mouthpiece, but sometimes it does help. Email bj@monette.net or call us at 503-255-5552 and we can discuss some options for you.
Im so confused as a guy just starting to play Trumpet. I see a lot say use bach 7C , then I see one guy on youtube saying throw them away and get a 3E, what do you guys say about starter mp ? I have what I would say is thin lips. With normal size mouth . I have play Alto Sax many years ago. Help please
Hello Smokey Dragon! Our size B6 S1 is extremely popular and would be an ideal size to get started with. It is considered comparable in size to the conventional size 3C. If you have further questions, just shoot me an email: bj@monette.net. You can call us here at the shop as well: 503-255-5552.
Hey, will these work for Mellophone or no?
Some mellophones do use trumpet mouthpieces, but others take a different shank size. If you have an instrument that accepts a trumpet mouthpiece and functions well with a trumpet mouthpiece, then yes - you can use a Monette Prana mouthpiece on your mellophone.
I have tried a couple of Prana mouthpieces (BLMR and B7F) and found that I have a lot of air or fuzz in the sound. How should I approach it differently to maximize the benefits?
Hi Patrick! Prana mouthpieces, while playing with a hugely resonant sound and wide dynamic range, can also be a bit unforgiving of any inconsistencies in a player's approach, in a way that other, tighter feeling mouthpieces may better allow. They have a more open feel than most other kinds of mouthpieces, and so sometimes airiness is caused by the player's embouchure being a bit spread and/or over-blowing. The key is to use your ears and have the sound in mind that you want to create, and also a physical approach that allows you to create that sound most effortlessly. This involves proper alignment -- keeping the head back over the spine and the chin low so that the throat is not constricted, unlocking the knees when standing, and not pushing the hips forward -- and releasing any unnecessary tension in the body. Most players who back off a bit and try not to work too hard will start to find the Prana working better and better for them.
I hope this is helpful! You can email me for more info: bj@monette.net
where do i get one for my cornet
Just call, email, or use our online store. 503-255-5552, bj@monette.net, www.monette.net/cornet-mouthpieces
Bravo les jeunes et merci , top--- armand dit Jo ,un suisse immigré au Philippines --- I have 4 Monette mouthpieces
Renascence or Parana ?
The resonance is prana
これからもいい物を作り続けて下さい。
応援してます
5 human hairs is A LOT when talking trumpet though!
Hola quisiera q m regalé un boquilla 3c x favor soy de Perú Salomón Chamorro soy admirador de usted graciad
Hola! Thank you for watching our video! For a size comparable to the 3C, we highly recommend the Resonance B6 S1. Contact our shop for more info. You can email BJ: bj@monette.net.