Sorry to hear about you having to get braces. But this isn't the end of the world. A fellow eupher, age 54, just had his braces removed. For this past season he wore one of those protectors shown here:
It worked for him. He did notice that he lost some high notes, and now that they're off, he has some trouble playing the real low notes but I think his trouble is the new caps he now has on the bottom front teeth. Some have suggested using wax instead of the protector, which ever you use, it should help.
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ/RF mpc YEP-641S(recently sold), DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank) Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches: "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
I also had braces and managed. Then my wisdom teeth impacted and all was screwed up again! Not fun, especially when you accidently got bumped in the mouth during marching season. But the blood will clean up with the usual cleaning. Gives a whole new meaning to a "red brass" leadpipe!
Both my sons survived braces and euphonium playing during high school and successfully adapted. The only word of caution, is when it's all over, don't forget to faithfully use your retainer.
The pressure on your teeth from playing a brass instrument could possibly undo some of the benefits of the braces. After a year off, our orthodontist wanted to put the braces back on and my son said "no way".
Playing with braces might present some difficulties but just wait until you are a senior and the problems start to go the other direction... you begin losing teeth! I know there are A LOT of us who have continued to play even though we thought it would be the end of The World when we were faced with caps, crowns, bridges, overlays, implants (the teeth... NOT the boobie kind!), partial plates, and dentures. Life goes on and it's fairly easy to cope if you maintain the right attitude.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
Kevin Hendrick wrote:Stands for "World Tuba Federation", I think ...
I think that's now called "World Tuba Entertainment"
Something about having the same initials as the World Trumpet Fund (or some other wildlife), as I recall...
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
i had braces for four years and i was worrying about the same things. i had them put on when i was in seventh grade and i had no problem after about a week or so. just practice and adjust (im sure that's been said before). we also had a bass trombone player who had what looked like like tubes that went over his and he was great. just some input. good luck and keep practicing.
I had braces for years then retainers. had teeth pulled too. Then you'll get your wisdom teeth done later probably. As others have said, these things happen.
I've noticed it seems to vary a lot from person to person. For me, i had to go a little easy for a couple of weeks... but once i got back into things i never looked back. I was playing euphonium at the time and I noticed no changes when they were eventually taken off. The only thing is all my lower teeth shifted eventually and since wisdom teeth came and went I've gained more of an underbite. Weird. So, keep your retainer going. Teeth look ok, but i won't be playing the romantic lead in too many hollywood blockbusters. I do think playing with too much pressure has arranged my bite somewhat and given me a little mobility in my front teeth.
Your ortho can work around your schedule a bit for big events. They usually aren't quite as maniacal and evil as we think. you'll only be sore for a day or so when they tighten them.
Pain and changes with your body take time (hmmmm...), there aren't many quick fixes out there. That's one thing i've learned from tendonitis. Just keep at it patiently and it too shall pass, i'm sure you'll end up better for it.
I wouldnt stress to much..I got them on and it took me about two weeks but believe it or not it actually is easier to play high notes for me atleast. It forces you not to use pressure. Good luck!
Last edited by LItubakid220 on Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
It's not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can't teach you that other stuff. - Glenn Holland, Mr. Holland's Opus
Kk cool, my mama is making my execution appointment tomorrow, sometime AFTER music camp. No way im playing up to 8 hours a day with fresh braces. Could be good for me but would ruin all the fun.
Euphoria wrote:Just some info on the ortho wanting to remove molars; if there isn't room for your wisdom teeth when they want to come in, they will shove all your other teeth out of the way and all that brace work will be ruined. And then you still will likely need to have the wisdoms out. Never put that off...oral surgeons are there for a reason.
Ephram
I resemble that remark! My wisdom teeth did not show up properly on my first orthodontic X-rays as a teenager, and when I turned 25 they had by that point impacted and screwed up everything that had been done to that point. Extractions of two upper wisdom teeth, two lower wisdom teeth, and two lower 12 year molars later (over two sessions) I could hardly chew. Then more damage as the two upper 12 year molars had nothing to come down against, so my right upper primary molar cracked and had to be removed. After that, and some more grinding on what was left, I can finally chew again. I'd like to think I just had my oral cavity (pun intended) opened up enough to help my tuba tone. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Good luck!
ahh about 16 more days till my appointment............Im not in the best mood. Is there anything I can do before hand to get a head start on getting used to them , or do I just take them when I get them. I heard playing with no pressure is a good start and a very good habit, but since Ive been doing it and feeling I could get used to it, WHY!!!!!!!! Can someone explain to me again why little pressure is better? Since ive been doing it, I have obviously lost my high range and I have lost about 80% of my nice tone quality that I finally got!!! I sound like crap!. .............
*wimpers like a puppy*
Pull yourself together, man! I had braces whilst a teenage trumpeter, and it can be done. I think that if I'd played euphonium or tuba at that time, it would have been easier. And, the advice about using the retainer is sound advice. I "lost" my retainer at the first opportunity, and now, over 30 years late, I wish that I hadn't. My lower front teeth have had a slight overlap that has made articulation more difficult for years, and since I recently got hit square across the upper lip with a steel bar, my upper teeth are ever-so-slightly moved, and I'm considering orthodontia to improve my playing capabilities. The steel bar in the chops incident split my lip in three places, and although I could not play for two weeks and my high range was obliterated when I could play again, with practice my range is coming back. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
!!