MODERN INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN TRUMPET MOUTHPIECE DESIGN

Abstract

In the early part of the 20th century, technological advancements in machinery allowed the production of trumpet mouthpieces to become more consistent than ever before. Vincent Bach and his contemporaries improved upon the previous standards set by European mouthpiece designers such as Leopold August Schmitt. This document explores the ways in which current North American manufacturers Peter Pickett, Terry Warburton, Dave Harrison, John Lynch, and Mark Curry are improving upon designs of Bach and his contemporaries in accordance with innovations in current trumpet designs, such as modifications in bell weight, valve blocks, tuning slides, and longer leadpipes, and the needs of the modern trumpet player.