'Tips from the Top' - Interview with Randefalk Music

This week on 'Tips from the Top' we have had the privilege to chat to Patrik Randefalk about his exciting new business venture Randefalk Music.

Hello Patrik, my first question for you is what instrument make and mouthpiece are you currently playing on?  

My current instrument is a Sterling Virtuoso and my mouthpieces is a Randefalk R3S (prototype with screw rim in Stainless steel and body in bronze) and R2S standard gold plated. 

What inspired you to set up Randefalk Music? 

Being an international and professional musician I´ve experienced most sides of a musician´s everyday life, from travelling long distances with large instruments to persistent practise. This has led to a desire to develop better solutions for different music related issues. After years of developing my own mouthpieces for euphonium, other musicians contacted me asking if they could buy these mouthpieces. As a response I founded my company Randefalk Musikk. 

Then I started to develop mouthpieces for the full range of brass instruments and other music related products too, like the FlowPartner. I´m passionate and driven to help both professional musicians, music-students and amateur-musicians to help with an even better music life. 

Today most of my products are in stock, others are still on the drawing board or in different stages of innovation processes. My products range from mouthpieces for all brass instruments to sophisticated innovative multifunctional flight cases and gig bags. In his developing activities he cooperates with different highly regarded professionals from other disciplines like Per Finne (perfinne.no), a renowned and prizewinning designer from Norway. 

Can you tell us little about your new range of mouthpieces?  

My mouthpieces are V and U shaped at the same time. It’s a gliding transition to a small cone in the throat. But there are some small differences between the models from cornet to tubas to get the same type of response and sound control on all mouthpiece models. As we speak, they are made in Lead free brass with double gold plating. But something new is coming up. In general my mouthpieces are made to make life a little bit more easy when it comes intonation, sound and response and specially to keep the same tone quality in all registers. 

What makes your new range of mouthpieces unique?  

There are so many great mouthpieces and model makers on the market today but I´ve tried to make my own thing, inspired by a lot of them. The main things I believe make my mouthpieces unique is the inside shape and choice of material which in combination makes it easy to produce sound. The material and the way we treat and process it during our manufacturing is still a secret that I want to keep for my self at the moment.  

How did you go about designing, testing and perfecting your new range of mouthpieces? 

I do the drawings by myself on a piece of paper with all the measurements that I want to try out. Then I ask my friend who works with a drawing program to make it visible for me in 3D. I´m fortunate to live in an area in Norway where I have great bass players around me. I use everyone from beginners to the professionals to try my things out. I´m listening and asking a lot. This way I get some feedback that I can put into action. When it comes to the Euphonium and Tuba range of mouthpieces I´ll do most testing myself. I don´t know if there is a perfect mouthpiece out there but I'm working to make life a little bit easier for brass players. 

You have quite a number of different options for mouthpieces and I was wondering if you could explain the differences between the R3 and R3S?   

Within the mouthpiece groups there are quite small differences. For example R3 and the R3S you are asking about, the rim is the only difference. R3 has a more wide rim that gives you a more meaty contact. The highpoint of the rim is located a third out from the middle of the rim so it gives you more space for the lips against the cup. When we tried this out it gave more volume and dynamic to the sound but needs more air support. I decided to develop this model, so I could get even better flexibility and quicker response. I then moved the highpoint to the centre and flattened it out slightly. That made both, outer and inner shape of the rim more round. I could move around a little bit more and noticed that the tone responded quicker and made my flexibility better. Then I decided to make this as the R3S, (S for sports). We have so many different setups with our teeth, lips, support and way of playing, so it's always good with options. 

I was curious if you had any thoughts in regards to using different materials in a mouthpiece such as Bronze, Titanium or Steel? 

I've tried out Bronze, titanium and stainless steel. I made a couple of prototypes in bronze and they played really well, but I changed back to brass again. This was because of the response and feel after a whiles testing on the lips. Brass still resonates more. When I tried in titanium and stainless steel it was really comfortable on the lips but with a more hard and cold sound. Again the brass winns.  

I have 9 of my mouthpiece models made in a material called Ryton. Ryton is made of polycarbonate, glass and nylon and gives a more ceramic feel then ordinary plastic. This is the reason why it`s extremely vibrant and tough. Ryton mouthpieces make you last longer when you practise and it keeps a more even temperature against the lips. Perfect for teachers who have the instrument up and down many times when teaching. Super for outdoors playing, beginners that might drop it on the ground now and again...also no known allergic reactions.  

Can you share any of your future plans for Randefalk Music?  

There are some new things coming, like instrument bags (cases), mutes and of course new models of mouthpieces. We are now in a process to try out the new model for French horn, two different models for trumpet and a new soprano mouthpiece. And here I have some fantastic musicians that will help me to the very best result. The reason is because of high interest from around the globe. I'm really humbled and grateful that so many people show their interest in my development of mouthpieces and accessories. Thank you!

During the spring I will release a new mouthpiece built on the R3S for euphonium. This will have different materials built together and new measurements on the inside. The 5 main models for euphonium R4, R3, R3S, R3.5 and R2S will have the option to swap between rims and body.  

This will be an option for most of my mouthpiece models later on. 

We have had some tests going on for a while with some top players locally, from Great Britain, Europe and myself. The feedback has been very positive so I´m really looking forward to showcase this to the public very soon. 

There is also a new FlowPartner in aluminium coming out soon. I´ve made some small changes and features on these so it gives more resonance. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Patrik for taking the time to chat to us here at The Brass Musician Blog. I really look forward to seeing and testing some of your latest products in th