Braces

[dmeacham5]

I am getting braces in about a week then the following Saterday i have a band concert where i must play because i am the only tuba player, i've heard it takes time to adjust any idea to speed up the process? thanks for any insight you may offer

[hup_d_dup]

I am currently wearing braces and that's the reason I'm now playing tuba rather than trumpet. I was told by many people that it would take a couple of weeks to adjust my trumpet embouchure to the braces. That was not true in my case and after about 6 weeks of frustration and no improvement whatsoever I took up the tuba. That was a little over a year ago.

I have since learned that there is a small but significant subset of people who get braces and cannot satisfactorily make the adjustment. The point is that you can't know what the effect of the braces will be until they are installed.

That said, a difficult adjustment period is much more likely to occur with trumpet than with tuba, and I have met several euphonium and tuba players that, because of braces, switched from trumpet to lower brass and never went back. I may turn out to be one of them.

Hup

[iiipopes]

Yep, braces in high school for me as well: been there, done that, used the t-shirt to wipe the blood out of the mouthpiece.

I feel for you. It's not fun. Just like when you learned to play the first time, fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. Start with long tones to get accustomed to the different feel, concentrate on the firm corners of the embouchure, relaxed jaw position, tongue position for articulation, and steady breath, then proceed to the usual mix of scales, interval slurs, simple etudes, etc., to start working back up to it.

Two items: 1) believe me, braces will cure using too much mouthpiece pressure immediately, and 2) you will get bumped in the mouth. Not on purpose, but it will happen. I was serious about the "t-shirt." Keep something with you to wipe up the blood and a bottle of water to rinse your mouth and mouthpiece out so you can keep going.

Hang in there. It is worth it.

[tbn.al]

I am reminded of a situation in college when a buddy got braces. Our teacher was overjoyed and I quote, "Well maybe now I've got a real chance to teach you how to play without so much pressure." My buddy was not amused.

[Conn 2J CC]

When I had braces eleven years ago, I found Morgan Bumpers to be very comfortable. They're U-shaped rubber strips that can be cut to the length needed to fit over your braces. I initially had to use wax, because my teeth were so out of alignment the bumpers wouldn't stay on. But once they would stay on, that was it for me and wax. They made playing all of the horns I play MUCH more comfortable. Even four hour jazz band gigs on Bass Trombone and Tuba were no problem. Ask your dentist or orthodontist about them - my orthodontist supplied them for free.

By the way, I got my braces when I was forty, since my mom would have never been able to pay for them while I was young. It turned out to be one of the best investments I've ever made as an adult musician. I'll NEVER regret having gotten them. I hope you feel the same. Good luck with yours.

[Eflatdoubler]

I went through braces about 7 years ago. Because I play my horn for a good portion of my living, I opted for the invisilign. Invisilign works for many cases, but not the most drastic. You normally wear them for two weeks, and then progress to the next set. I tended to wear mine for three weeks each since I would take them out for playing.
It is paramount that you find someone who has a good deal of experience with this product. My orthodontist took the molds and x-rays, but determined it necessary to pull the first bicuspid on each side of my upper teeth. This was somewhat scary, as originally I thought if the invisalign didn't work (I was only doing this to make my arch more of a "U" instead of a "V" for playing) I could always reverse my order of the trays if they didn't work.
I am happy with how it turned out. I would go in every two months for a check up which was already included in the price ( I paid $4,500 for it and it came with a free whitening and retainer). I completed my initial sets ( about 1 1/2 years) and then it was determined that I still needed more sets. They gave me nine more sets, and for some reason I stopped on set number 8...I still have them and I guess I will have to finish them out if I can fit them back in my mouth. I do recommend them for brass players. Not really sure why I got sidetracked with mine. If you take them out for any time or don't wear your retainer after the last set is done your teeth can shift. I have tried playing with them in and can get away with it sometimes, but I found it sounded best when I removed them.
I have taught for many years, and I think this is the best way for brass players to continue their success while correcting their smile (or in my case trying to do something that I thought would enhance my playing).

[dmeacham5]

I had my concert Saturday and for one piece, Symphonic dance # 3 I was the only tuba playing but overall the concert went well. I had a little trouble with my tone but it straitened out after a while of playing, though it is seems hard to start an attack when I first start playing.

One thing I have noticed is some days my tone and sound will be very smooth and great, though on other days it will be very rough and gravely, this happened before but not nearly to this extent. My high range also is more limited, before I "topped out" at the F above the staff with a decent tone, though now I barley reach the high C.

Thanks for everyone for there help and insight on my situation.

[thattubaguy]

I have my youth orchestra audition in a month and I'm getting my braces (top & bottom) off in two weeks; any advice?

[dmeacham5]

Just be sure to play as much as you can my braces haven't made me bleed but my mouth gets raw. The first time i played afterwards was for band practice and my low register was all funky, It seemed the partials were slightly different and my high register was diminished I was able to hit high F above the staff and now i'm struggling to hit high BBb on the staff. SO just work on your high range as much as you can.