Is it okay to remove the cork from a trumpet's mute?
I bought a mute for my trumpet because I want to practice playing in my dorm.
However, it is not very effective in minimizing the noise I make when I play.
I suspect that it is the pieces of cork that prevent complete obstruction of sound from within the trumpet.
So, will it be okay to detach these pieces of cork so that my mute will fit in more snugly into my trumpet? Or will it just destroy the mute and not lead to any desired results?
Please refer to the attached image (it depicts the 'cork' in my mute).
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I would just like to point out that those corks are there for three reasons. The first is to hold the mute inside your bell, the second is to protect the finish on the inner bell from being scratched by the metal of the mute, or vice-versa. The third and perhaps most important is to allow the air a way of getting out of your horn.
If you look at the other end of your mute, you may notice there is no hole in it. So if you remove the corks, then put the mute in the bell, there will be no way for the air to escape the bell. This would either stop you from playing the horn at all, or you might blast the mute out of the trumpet like an air cannon. ;)
The practice mutes that were mentioned do indeed seal completely around the inside of the bell, but they also have a small hole in the other end to allow for airflow. They are a bit restrictive to play, but they do accomplish the job.
The mute in your picture is a performance mute, and while it makes the sound of your horn a bit "tinny," as you have mentioned it does not really quiet it much.
I think in your case what you want is an actual practice mute; Humes & Berg's Stonelined Practice Mute for trumpet is fairly effective and pretty inexpensive.
I would suggest seeing if the store you bought it from will allow you to exchange it.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but the correct answer is: do NOT practice in the dorm . I speak as a longtime musician who spent countless hours in practice rooms and practice cubes provided by college music departments for exactly that reason. Aside from the fact that, even with a heavy mute, you will annoy other dorm residents, you can't learn an instrument properly if you only practice with a mute.
EDIT: in light of the info provided in the comments about no access to practice rooms, I'm kinda stuck for a better answer. Maybe you can get 'lucky' and find a storage room or laundry room in the dorm basement you could use to practice.
Those pieces of cork are what's holding the mute inside your trumpet! I wouldn't recommend removing them - unless you only wish to play lying on your back.
Is this a straight mute? You may find a cup mute more effective at muffling your sound - although I'd recommend asking advice on that first. (As Charles mentions, a practice mute with a full ring of cork may be what you're looking for instead - they're a new one on me.) If you're serious about this, you may also want to investigate silent brass systems, which are specifically designed for this sort of thing, but I don't believe they're cheap.
Do yourself the biggest favor and purchase the Yamaha Silent mute. Ether the new 0 model or the old 0 model. Either feels virtually natural, and volume is not an issue. They have microphone pickups in the mute so when you plug the system in, it sounds quite real. As a pro player, this thing has saved me on many occasions. Warming up before gigs is the main one, but being able to practice almost anywhere is the best. Hotel room, dorm, apartment, etc. People can hear it in the same room as a faint whisper.
www.musiciansfriend.com/brass-instruments/yamaha-sb7xc-silent-brass-system-for-trumpet?source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CI7NytLY68ECFQqTaQodhlQAUg&kwid=productads-plaid%5E83573845947-sku%5EJ05787000000000@ADL4MF-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E53736456387
If you can afford it, do it. You won't regret it.
I would sand it down slighty so that it could go in easier. I exhale air into my bell (fogging up) to help it stay in.
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