Hi guys and gals,
I'm fairly new to playing the cornet and hope that you can give me some advice.

Although I'm new on cornet, I play various other instruments, and I sing. I bought a second hand cornet about 6mths ago - it's Amati 212. I noticed various comments within this forum about Amati and this tended to confirm what I thought. I can get a lovely rich tone from the cornet, but it doesn't play in tune, it always seems to play sharp; I have played with a tuner going slowly up scales but whatever I try eg lip placement, tight lips, loose lips, blow hard blow soft nothing seems to work. This could be me, but I don't know.

The other problem I have is that I can't seem to play higher notes. I am well aware that this takes time, however, the mouthpiece that came with the cornet is stamped 7c, and I suspect that it is a very basic mouthpiece, and having done some research believe that a different shaped mouthpiece could help with higher notes.

Now this is the 6 million dollar question- do I buy another mouthpiece with the hope that it will improve range, and possibly even get blowing in tune, or do I trade up for a 'better' cornet? Does anyone have any specific suggestions what sort of mouthpiece would work with the cornet I have. I already have other music lessons and with other commitments it would be difficult to fit in lessons on the cornet, which is why I'm hoping that someone from this forum could help. If any of you out there have the same cornet or have played one, in terms of extending range (low notes are all there) how easy are the high notes, ie those at the top of the treble clef stave and going upwards? If these are really quite easy on this cornet then it would be worthwhile sticking with this one perhaps. If not, then it seems I'm unlikely to progress and will need to upgrade. I would need something better than what I've got presently, I understand that Yamaha is good, and ebay should be avoided as the cheap cornets can be rubbishy; what is a good cornet that is reasonably priced?

Thanks for your help

Redhead.

I dont afraid I cant offer much help for this thread, with me being a euph player and all that, however I did start on the cornet, some sort of old yammy, cant remember which.

I experienced the same problem as you are now. I found that a Vincent Bach mouthpiece was perfect for me, it really helped extend my range. I dont know if this would be the case for you.

I dont think this will be much use to you, however I thought I'd post it anyway!

Hope You Get Your Problem Sorted!

Good Luck With The Playing!!!

Hi there, a 7C is a standard mouthpiece which i used up till grade 7! so i can see no problems there changing to a larger cup can sometimes help especially with a wider rim.
i currently use a denis wick 2.5C , and afew months ago was on a Vincent bach 1.5C i just found i wanted a bigger bore.

As to the Cornet - i have never been a fan of amati - i think their quality is a bit crappy - and would only use it as a beginner instrument.

Bach, yamaha, and besson are more quality - brass banders seem to swear by besson.

So i think an upgrade would be a good idea.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-Bb-CORNET-YCR...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Besson-600-Boosey-Ha...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-Cornet-with-o...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORNET-SILVER-PLATED...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hope these links might help - paste them in to your browser if they don't work.
Also bras banders seem to like Denis wick mouth pieces 2B i think i used but i will have a look in my music cupboard.

Hope this has been of help.

Thanks Trumpeter, I will check those links. Maybe I will get lucky! If not I guess I shall have to visit some music shops.

Redhead.

What kind of range have you got at the moment?

I had a 7c mouthpiece with my cornet, which I played to start with. I found the higher register relatively easy on it, but didn't like the more trumpety sound it gave. I then changed to a deeper mouthpiece, which although giving a much nicer, more mellow cornet sound, made the high register harder. Since I started playing the soprano cornet I have returned to my 7c mouthpiece, which is absolutely fine for playing high (which I obviously have to do a lot of!) and gives me the sharper edge I need to cut through the band.

My advice however is to not change mouthpiece to improve your register. An even smaller/shallower mouthpiece for a cornet (7c is quite shallow anyway) will help you to play high notes, but it will also affect the sound you produce (and make you sound more like a trumpet!). Really you should be playing with the deepest mouthpiece you can to produce the best, fullest sound - your register will improve over time. Another problem with using a smaller mouthpiece to make high notes easier is that it may also make playing loudly more difficult, and notes may end up sounding strained.

I'd say after only 6 months you shouldn't be worried that you can't play high enough anyway, because as you pointed put yourself, it will take time. I would urge you to either stick with your current mouthpiece or to even get a deeper one.

I have no experience with the cornet you have, but if you are serious about playing, and upgrading would make you happier / more confident then that may be a good idea, although it is probably unnecessary to go for a really expensive one yet. I played on a Besson 1000 up untill I passed my grade 7, which is one of the cheapest in the Besson student range, but it was perfectly adequate.

Often tone and range do not go hand in hand, if you are looking for a great sound it is wise to get a bigger cupped mouthpiece, if you are looking to play high a smaller cupped mouthpiece is good. If your mouthpiece is a bach the system for sizeing is: smallest number=deepest cup, Highest Number=most shallow cup. So for the bach system 1 and 1/2 C (or lower) is the prefered size for orchestral players. Whilst 7C is more often found in a big band - although at professional level most players use a lead mouthpiece.

To be honest Amati is not a good make. reasonable cornets are the besson 600 and 700, (I havn't played the 1000, but chrisgs has mentioned it in his post) these are good even second hand - as long as they are no more than 15 years old. Further up the scale the besson Soveriegn is a great cornet - two triggers, and a good sound. Even a good second hand one is worth the money! The besson prestige cornet is meant to be better, but personally I don't like it. Second hand instruments are often better from besson - the new ones are made abroad.

Also, as Trumpeter said, denis wick mouthpieces are quite popular with brass players. (personally I play on a bach 1 and1/2C cornet mouthpiece as this is the same as my trumpet mouthpiece) I don't know how the sizing works for these mouthpieces - look on their website, or a manual.

Always remember that instruments and accessories are expensive - so buy them from an experienced specialist dealer. Try and compare makes and models to suit your preferences.

Good luck!

Try using the tuning Slide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if that doesn't work... buy a decent cornet and throw out the old one!!! before i played trumpet i played Cornet so i would advise that Yamaha's are normally really good!!!!

Just as an update.....

Have now managed to get high A on several days running- it's still a bit squeaky but is there! The transposing hymn idea is working well.

I also have tried a friend's mouthpiece (washed of course!) this was a Dennis Wick 4BW I think. It was a very different cut to mouthpiece I have- more cone shaped and deeper whereas the one I play is very narrow and shallow. Friend's m/piece played a lot easier than mine. However, I am looking to upgrade and when I have the time I shall visit one of the unfortunately not-so-local brass shops.

Ohhhh and the tuning slide, what tuning slide??? Yes I have found this, it does help sometimes.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not feeling so alone now, and much more confident and have actually played cornet in the band, having, albeit temporarily, left the first sax chair!

Redhead