TubeNet

nil

Braces can be a problem. Definitely.

I'm not saying that's the problem with you, necessarily. But your teachers, having seen, heard, and worked with you, probably have a good idea. Be glad they're on now, not later. A guy who was a freshman when I was a grad student, a euph player, got braces at Christmas break of his freshman year. Took a semester off playing much, because of the pain and discomfort involved. When he did start back, he switched to tuba, figuring--correctly, in his case--that the bigger mouthpiece would be easier to deal with.

January? Great! That gives you some time to work hard before audition season really hits, even if it's only a couple of months. But, most teachers will have an appreciation or at least understanding of your situation, and unless it's an extremely highly competitive situation, you should be able to get anywhere you want.

Well, if your basic playing is good enough!

Best of luck!

bloke wrote:2 much prac'cin, combined with http://tinyurl.com/yslqer

HAHA yes!! i remember good ol' Bloke...good to see your wise advice once again..... I see where youre coming from

Thanks to you again Ken, good to hear from you as well..... keep pushin and play for the same good reasons I always do. Thanks for the confidence boost lads.



Kevin

Play longtone warmups in front of a tuner and check embouchure.

Your tone should improve when the braces come off, but just slightly.

It's a trick, a gimmick and it's easy. Now, you will think it's hard because you tried and failed and the first thing you have to do is start to think positively. There's no magic to range.

Read this and THINK ABOUT it before trying it. Once your brain understands the principles, it's a lot easier when you put the horn on your face. Braces - they're uncomfortable, but the 100's of students I've taught sporting braces and sound or range was never an issue. Remember mouthpiece pressure against the embouchure does not equal range.

viewtopic.php?t=4051&highlight=high+range

Roger

Kevin wrote:Most of the time, if I do hit the notes I want, I get an extreme double buzz.....probably my embouchure eh.

For your double buzz problem, see this link on the old TubeNet by Roger Lewis:

http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/feb2003 ... 21677.html
...to read all the posts in this thread, click on the underlined double buzz.

Kevin -

It's good to hear that you're almost through surviving your braces. I needed braces desparately while I was growing up, but didn't get them because my mother couldn't afford them. I got them on my own when I was almost 40 (I'm now 46).

Ken F. brought up a good point - dental guards. Ask your orthodontist if you can get some Morgan Bumpers. They're flexible, U shaped rubber guards that slip over the brackets on your teeth. You cut them to whatever lengths you need. I couldn't use them at first because my teeth were so crooked the brackets weren't lined up well enough for the Morgan Bumpers to stay on. Later on they stayed on fine, and I loved them. They're very comfortable. I could easily last a three hour jazz band gig on Bass Trombone wearing them.

As for any adults reading this post who have heard that getting braces as an adult is not a good idea, well, I'm one adult who will never regret it. I know there are a lot of reasons why adults don't get them. But for me, braces were the best investment I made in myself as a wind musician. Within a few weeks after getting braces, I started playing better with them than I did before getting them. But, as I said, my teeth were rather crooked.

Just offering my humble opinion -

Yes as for the dental guards, I wont bother with them but thanks for the suggestion. It would be rather ironic to ask my orthodontist for one next time i see him, that appointment is my removal haha. I will read on those articles and give things a positive shot.

Thanks to all again,

Kevin

Kevin,
No need to rush. You might enjoy your holidays and ease into playing after any damage from brace removal heals. Rushing is futile because things will feel and sound different (I didn't say worse) and it takes time to sort things out. Over time you will be comfortable. I hope you don't pressure yourself too soon.