Review: UpMute Practice Mute
I am just saying this upfront. I am not getting reimbursed in any way from UpMute to write this review. These are my own experiences with the product.
One of the best features of the UpMute practice mute is that there is No back pressure throughout the entire range of the trumpet. Pedal tones through g above high c are all free and speak well. The evenness and free blowing qualities in all registers is impeccable and something I have not found in any other practice mutes. For all the music styles that I play, this mute covers it all.
Intonation is accurate throughout the entire range of the mute. It is one of the best I have played. I have not experienced this with any other practice mute that is available for the trumpet.
Following the UpSound philosophy, the UpMute technology helps centers tone and promote a full, rich sound. I am not sure how it works, but the mojo works well! I use the mute with several of my developing students who are working on building a full sound. This mute helps facilitate the full open sound they are striving for, in a much faster pace than if they did not use the mute.
This excerpt is from the UpMute website:
“The UPMUTE practice mute gives a feeling of freedom and total control of the whole register and the intonation, from the lowest pedal tones until the highest register.
Following the UPSOUND philosophy, UPMUTE is not just a practice mute; it improves the development of your sound quality and richness. Thanks to its perfect amount of resistance, it offers a great focus and centre in the sound, stabilizing day to day a great deal of frequencies and creating homogeneity in the associated harmonics.
It gathers the five essential requirements:
• Intonation
• Mimimum resistance to the air flow
• Sound quality
• Very soft, it does not disturb
• Lightweight and easily to carry around in most bags”
Just as importantly as the forementioned information, the mute really is quiet. It will not disturb others. During COVID when schools were online, I was able to practice throughout the day without disturbing my two children and wife who were online schooling in the next rooms over from where I was practicing. I could hear them, but they could not hear me. This is a perfect solution for trumpet players who live in an apartment complex or where noise can be an issue.
Having used other mutes from reputable makers, UpMute is by far the best practice mute that money can buy (about $80.00). It is well worth the money spent.
