Hardware
No. You can do the BE exercises on any mpc. It is possible that in the process you want to change mpc's; your embouchure will change!.Typically, this tends to be a somewhat smaller mpc (diameter, cup), but that is not necessary. Some people are perfectly happy with bigger mpc's and still benefit from BE. In the end the choice for a mpc depends on what feels good for you, what sound you want to make or what sound you need for a particular job.
I never tried it. Jeff Smiley had it made and it appears to fit remarkably well for people who are advanced BE players. But you don't need it to do the exercises, and I don't think that the exercises are more effective on this or any other mpc.
Yes. My own experience is that the somewhat deeper flugelmpc's are harder to do some of the exercises on, but in the end I don't think that this is less effective. On the shallower trumpetmpc it is just easier to get the right sound.
I think so and I hear it from more and more people. I only play trumpet and flugelhorn, so I cannot tell from my own experience.The basic thought is that BE makes your lips move in more or less the right direction and that goes for all brass instruments. The exercises are written for trumpet, so if you play trombone you will have to adjust some of the exercises, but the basics stay the same.
I have no idea. The method is based on the thought that the lips are the first valve and responsible for the necessary compression. For a certain amount of players this means that they don't want a horn that has a lot of resistance, so they choose a horn.that feels open. There are also a lot of players that do very well on a simple Bach mod. 37 ML In the end it is a combination of mpc., horn and player. Mpc, horn and embouchure should be an unbreakable unity, and you can only reach this by experimenting with all kinds of combinations. BE stabilizes one factor: embouchure, so you don't have to worry about that too much.
This can be difficult. If you really play easier on it (with the same or greater range, flexibility endurance and tone) then I would suggest to stick to it, whatever the band director says. A mpc that may sound a little brassy and even harsh in the beginning can smooth out after some time. When your lips adjust and are able to focus better in a smaller cup, the sound can be as warm as it was on a bigger piece. It can take some time, but it is not dangerous to try it, if you play comfortably on it. You can also try to find a compromise between your directors choice and your own, but this can lead to a lot of confusion and frustration. If you play a bigger mpc and your endurance suffers, you play with a beautiful big tone for the first fifteen minutes and after that you still don't sound good..On the other hand, a good mpc is always a compromise. It depends on what you have to play, how long, high, what sound you or your director wants etc., but if you find a mpc that seems to fit well, even if it is a small one which your director hates, give it a chance.
