Schilke Mouthpieces
Setting the Standard for Quality Sound
Renold O. Schilke had a profound influence on the development of brass mouthpiece design and pedagogy throughout the 20th century. His wisdom and insight have influenced several generations of performers, educators, and students while also setting the standard for other manufacturers. Today, Schilke Music continues to offer the highest level of expertise in assisting musicians when determining what mouthpiece might work best for their playing needs.
Schilke Music Mouthpieces
In addition to several new mouthpiece models from the Schilke custom mouthpiece division, Schilke Music continues to offer a unique mix of classic designs that were a result of custom consultation with many notable professional musicians and colleagues of Renold O. Schilke.
Understanding the Role of Your Mouthpiece in Your Sound
It’s important to remember that performing with a quality sound is your greatest asset as a musician. Achieving a quality sound comes from a perfect marriage of practiced technique and a well-crafted instrument and mouthpiece. Your instrument acts as an amplifier for the vibration produced within your mouthpiece. Which means your mouthpiece is critical in determining the character of your sound, response, and intonation along with consistency of sound quality in all registers and dynamic levels.
The Composition of a Mouthpiece
A mouthpiece is composed of several parts or variables that greatly influence a player’s sound. These variables include:
- Rim contour or rim shape
- Inner rim diameter or cup diameter
- The throat
- Cup shape or cup volume
- The backbore
- Shank or stem
All of these components play a major role in the final sound production on a brass instrument. General knowledge of these concepts and how they work can only assist the player in selecting equipment that improves their sound.
The Schilke Mouthpiece Labeling System
We’ve developed a custom labeling system to reference each mouthpiece while describing the general resistance variables of each model. The Schilke mouthpiece model nomenclature offers information on the following primary mouthpiece characteristics:
- Cup Diameter
- Cup Volume
- Rim Contour
- Backbore
Understanding these variables will help a player make an educated, musical choice in selecting a new mouthpiece.
