How to Choose a Mouthpiece with Gail Williams

Laskey Artist Gail Williams, Professor Emerita at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, demonstrates how to choose a French Horn Mouthpiece. She discusses a list of criteria a player should consider, and what NOT to do when testing a mouthpiece.
Gail Williams is an internationally recognized hornist and brass pedagogue. She has presented concerts, master classes, recitals and lectures throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Ms. Williams joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in December 1978, and was appointed associate principal horn in 1984, a position she held until her retirement from the orchestra in 1998. She has been a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and is currently principal horn of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. She performs on a gold-plated Laskey 85GW French Horn Mouthpiece.
Laskey. Sounds Like Success.
-----
Learn How Laskey Mouthpieces Are Made: • How Laskey Brass Mouth...
Get Your New Laskey Mouthpiece Here: www.laskey.com
-----
Subscribe to our channel and be part of the Laskey buzz:
www.youtube.com/@laskeymouthp...
-----
Follow Us:
Facebook - / laskeymouthpieces
Instagram - / laskeymouthpieces
-----
Inquiries - [e-mail]

[@defense9989]

Very good advice, thank you! :) Personally, I (an educational horn major) have very large lips and I used to struggl with my embouchure for over half a decade until I finally found a teacher who told me to get a bigger mouthpiece. Right now, I am playing a very big one with an inner diameter of 20mm (standard is 17.5 mm to 18.5 mm). When I switched to the mouthpiece, I noticed that (although my high register was pretty bad at first) I could play much more freely and had a much better sound. And eventually, my high register came back with a way better sound and a much better airflow. Sometimes, you really have to take some detours to achieve something greater eventually. I have been happy with this mouthpiece for over 3 years now.

[@isaaclitan3907]

I'm questioning my lip size and whether I should get a larger mouthpiece. Thanks for the inspiration 👍

[@defense9989]

@@isaaclitan3907 You're welcome! It does not always have to do with lip size, I know other horn players who get along fine with a smaller mouthpiece though they have bigger lips. But if you feel like your mouthpiece is forcing you to strain or press, give it a try! I was stuck in a loop of not advancing to a higher level due to this for 2 years.

[@fhotzel]

Trumpet player here my range is better (high and low) on a larger mouthpiece, and I get all the overtones that Gail is talking about