Mouthpiece (brass) Mouthpiece (brass) On brass instruments the mouthpiece is the part of the instrument placed on the player's lips. The mouthpiece is a simple circular opening that leads, via a semi-spherical or conical cavity, to the main body of the instrument. Mouthpieces vary to suit the tone of the instrument. Lower instruments also have larger mouthpieces, to maximize resonance (see pitch of brass instruments). Also, mouthpieces are selected to suit the embouchure of the player, to produce a certain timbre, or to optimize the instrument for certain playing styles. For example, trumpet and trombone mouthpieces are usually semi-spherical whereas French horn
Reed (mouthpiece) life from a reed, the reed should be soaked in water for 2 minutes or until fully moist, but not soaked. It should be played for about 5 minutes the first day, 15 minutes the second, and 45 minutes on a third. After this, it should continue to be soaked, but can be played as long as needed. Especially in musical theatre orchestras, woodwind players are commonly referred to as "reed players" or "reeds". These players are not restricted to one particular woodwind instrument group, but play ("double on") several different instruments. (Although the flutes are not reed instruments, they