Denis Wick Product TrainingI. Mouthpiece Features and Benefits

II. Understanding The Mute

Who Is Denis Wick?

Maurice Murphy: Indiana Jones: trumpet solos

Star Wars: Opening movie trumpet fanfares

Denis Wick: Star Wars: Darth Vader ThemeIndiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

London Symphony Orchestra

How is Sound Created?

Embouchure: Mouth Position to focus air.

Aperture: Lip Position for

released air Mouthpiece: Placed against

the face to facilitate maximum vibration. Embouchur

e ApertureMouthpiece

Vibration = Sound The goal of the relationship between the performer (air, embouchure, aperture) and mouthpiece is maximum vibration.

AIR

AIR

+ = SOUND +

Vibration Translate sound to instrument

A brass instrument no matter what the size, the quality, the cost, is an over-glorified megaphone. It just magnifies the sound produced by the player/mpc relationship.

Why is the Mouthpiece Important?

Mouthpiece ComponentsRimThe part of the mouthpiece that comes into contact with the players face.

Cup: DiameterAffects the area of vibrating lip supported by the embouchure.

Cup: VolumeThe cup is the resonating chamber of the mouthpiece. It’s volume will affect the sound it translates to the instrument.

ThroatAffects the air as it enters the mouthpiece. The Throat is the first place the air passes through after exiting the vibrating lips.

BackboreAffects the air as it exits the mouthpiece into the instrument.

The Relationship

The funnel cup must be proportional to the funnel throat. The mouthpiece Rim, Cup Diameter, Cup Depth, Backbore, and Throat all have specific measurements that must be proportional to each other.

Imagine that you have 2 gallons of water that need to flow through a funnel.

Competitor Mouthpiece Use a stock backbore and throat. Mouthpiece size relates only to the cup diameter and volume.

This creates a disproportion between the measurements

May stifle the sound and create more work for the performer.

The Denis Wick Difference

Measurements and sizing designed to proportionally compliment each other

Offers a wide variety of “support options” that do not sacrifice tone production

Superior sound production, tuning, facility

The Denis Wick Difference

Mouthpiece OptionsClassic Heavytop Heritage

American Classic

Paxman

Maurice Murphy Steven Mead/Ultra

CornetTrumpetFlugelhornFrench Horn Alto/tenor HornTromboneEuphoniumTuba (Classic)

CornetTrumpetFlugelhornFrench Horn Trombone

CornetTenor HornTromboneTuba (2-tone & silver)

Trumpet Trumpet Baritone/ Euphonium

French Horn

Comparisons: What’s the Difference?Heritage

Classic

Heavy Top

Mass D

istritb

utio

n

• Thinned upper walls and rim/ mass placed in base of cup

• Focused sound with easy articulation and higher register

• Great for classical/orchestral players

• Mass added all around

• Aids in extreme focus to sound

• Great for marching band and Jazz Band

• Classic weight distribution

• Great for all types of playing

Backbore: The backbore affects the air as it exits the mouthpiece. There are three main types of backbore contours:

• V-Shape: faster exit into the instrument and creates a brighter, more focused sound.

• Barrel: most open of the three designs, resulting in a less direct air flow and freer blowing mouthpiece.

• V-barrel: air flows slightly less directly than a V-type which offers a slightly less bright tone.

Backbore

Rim ContourRim: Mouthpiece rims are characterized as rounded or flat.

Rounded

Less Stability More flexibility

Flat

More Control/support Less Flexibility

Translating Customer Complaints

My mouthpiece is uncomfortable.• Cutting into lip• Slides off my embouchure• I want more flexibility• I have response issues

Rim Contour• Flat Rim – More comfort• Rounded Rim – More

flexibility

Cup Diameter• Large Diameter– More

Flexibility• Small Diameter– More

Support

• My Sound is too bright/dark.• I want to play higher/lower

notes.

Cup Volume• Deeper Cup – Darker Sound/low

register facility• Shallow Cup - Brighter Sound/high

register facility

• My mouthpiece is stuffy.• I want better projection.

Throat/Backbore• Larger Throat – More Open• Backbore – V-type Barrel will

offer better projection

Comfort

Tone/Range

Sound/Projection

Denis Wick SolutionsBeginner

5182A-7C or 5c, 5882-4B

5880-SM9 (Steven Mead)

5885-4

5880B-9B

Orchestra

5882A-1.5C, 5882-MM1.5C

3180-5ABL, 5880-5ABL

5286-2.5CC

5885-4

N/A

Jazz Band

5286-4L

5882-4x, 5882-4E

5880-10CS

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sound Production Darker Tone/ Projection Brighter Tone/ Projection/ Range

Denis Wick Mutes

Denis Wick mutes are constructed to encourage optimum sound production through sensitivity to the function of a mute and it’s relationship to it’s corresponding instrument.

Denis Wick began creating mutes a year after he produced his first mouthpiece

Mute Function

• Sound emits through the instrument bell

• The mute manipulates and retransmit the sound through the mute. • Various materials and shapes are used to create many different manipulations.

Mute CharacteristicsThere are two criteria that separate the good from the bad: Tone Color and

Intonation.Tone Color

Intonation

VS.

VS.

The Denis Wick Difference

• Mutes are hand made/hand spun using high purity aluminum

• Measured to strict standards to provide excellent intonation and response

• Premium all natural cork to ensure a proper fit and long life.

• The hand-spinning process hardens the metal and gives Denis Wick mutes their unique tone color while preserving perfect intonation

• Superior intonation is trademark for Denis Wick mutes

Tone Color Intonation

Denis Wick Mute Options

New!

Straight Mutes

Adjustable Cup Extending Tube

Practice Mute Travel Mute

Summary Guiding your customers to make choices that will prolong their

musical career

You do not need to teach them good sound but you can focus them on good sound.

Denis Wick precision results in products that do not perform well by chance, but provide peak performance by design.