alright here is the deal. I am a senior in HS and am playing lead in all the bands, I also have many solos ranging from "scream" to normal Lead to improv. I am tired of switching mouthpieces all the time so I would like to know which ones to use. I play lead in the marching band, jazz band, and symphonic band. I have a 12C, 14D, 12E, 19, and 6 1/2 AL. Which mouthpiece should I use for each band? Also why does everybody hate 12Cs and why do most teachers force students to play on bigger mouthpieces, I realize it is to build up the embouchure, but professionals don`t play on 5Gs for jazz.
Thnx for all the help.

You`re right. Professionals don`t use 5G`s for jazz work. (actually some do) But they don`t use 12C`s either. The tone you get from a 12C is crap, that`s why we don`t use them. I suggest using the 6 1/2 for marching and symphonic band, or even something larger, like a 5, or even a 4. For jazz, I would use something that you like, that gives you good tone. What brand is the 19? What brands are all of these? Remember, the number doesn`t mean much, since they differ from brand to brand.

If you want to choose from the collection you have, choose one that (in this order) 1. gives you the best tone, 2. is the most comfortable, and 3. you can play in all needed registers. Remember, it`s not the mouthpiece that makes the player, it`s the player that makes the sound. For a while, I used a Marcinkowicz George Roberts Custom bass mouthpiece for lead in Wind Esnemble and Orcheastra in college, because it gave me the best tone out of the mouthpieces I had, and once I grew accustomed to it, the range was not a problem.

The worst thing you can do for your consistancy and sound production is change mouthpieces all the time. Choose one you like for jazz, and one you like for all the other groups. Or, choose the same one for all. The 6 1/2 would work great for everything, as would a 5, or even a 4. Once you get used to a bigger piece, the range will return, and you will have better sound output as well.

If you are in the market for a new piece, play as many different brands and sizes as you possibly can. Try em all, Dennis Wick, Marcinkowicz, Schilke, and any of the more pricey custom pieces, like Warburton, Greg Black, Stork, and anything else out there. Mouthpieces are picky, they differ from player to player. So choose something that gives you good tone and you like playing on before anything else. Don`t worry about how high or low you can play on it, if you use it right, the range will come. (I had a comfortable and consistant high F, and sometimes a good strong double Bb on my G.R Custom bass piece.)

they are all bachs

Why do trombonists always go for bigger mouthpieces whil trumpets go for smaller ones?

Because they are 2 totally different instruments. We go for large mouthpieces out of neccessity for good, strong, powerful, full tone quality. Trumpet players rely more on their range than we do. Plus, there isn`t as much of a tone benefit for trumpet players to go larger, as much as there is for us. And, not all trumpet players go for small mouthpieces.

Ok then, if they are all Bachs, I would go with the 6 1/2AL for marching and symphonic band, or even try to find a 5, if you can. For jazz, experiment with all of them, and choose the one that you like playing on the best, that gives you the best sound quality. Don`t worry about how high you can play on it, that will come once you grow accustomed to the piece itself. If it was me, and I had the choice out of those, I would play the 6 1/2 for everything. My current lead jazz piece is a Dennis Wick 6bs, which is comparable to a Bach 5 or 6 1/2. I also have a Jet-Tone Urbie Green model, which is smaller than a Bach 12, which I used to use as a joke piece, but I am so comfortable and accustomed to the Wick, that my range is actually greater with it than the little bitty Jet-Tone.