has anybody had this problem?

[bigbob]

Hi as alot of you know I had my top teeth pulled out 16 month's ago and have been taking lessons without them.. and I don't sound that bad to me (only guy in room<s>)So hurray I finaly get the top teeth and have been trying to play with then for six days now!! No go!! I can't get my lips in the mouthpice right the teeth gum line is right on the mouth piece,Oh I started being able to play some high note BUT here's the sad part when I try to play lower notes my new Teeth wants to pop out of my mouth even rattled on the mouth piece Now I'm not the best but I don't play bad without the teeth is there anyone else that has my problem and is the solution playing without the teeth since I only play in my room??

[Dan Schultz]

I wear and upper front partial and don't have any problems with it. Keep practicing and just give it some time. You REALLY need the support of teeth behind your pucker.

[imperialbari]

First problem to solve: there are solutions keeping the dentures in place. I have no first hand experience and brand names likely are different on my side of the pond.

The faster route forward possibly is going back to the basic, playingwise. If somebody without dental problems had low range problems my advice would be this:

Buzz a note on the mouthpiece alone. Choose a pitch allowing for a stable sound as resonant and full as at all possible. From there make downwards glissandos as wide as possible. For control purposes some upwards glissandos may be a good idea also, but they shall not be the main focus.

Over time, which may be within the same session or over several days depending on your progress, lower the starting pitch gradually. Only make sure the starting pitch always is fully stable in sound and control.

Personally I do lip wide glissandos on the instrument also, because they break whatever tensions are coming from playing too many different brasses (the only instruments where I strive to avoid glissandos are the trombones).

Some never get the glissandos on valved instruments. For them slow downwards chromatic legatos are a good alternative. Don’t force anything and don’t play lower than possible with a good sound, as there is a risk of developing counterproductive compensating bad habits (odd pivots or odd changes in mouthpiece position). If you go to the limits of your range in a controlled fashion, your range will expand over time.

Klaus

[Doug Elliott]

I would say the biggest problem is that you have gotten used to whatever it takes to play with no teeth. If you're going to figure out what works WITH them, you have to totally abandon what you've been doing and start over. It might even help to take some time off, while you sort out what it takes to hold the dentures in place. And get used to the "new" jaw position with them in.

[bigbob]

Thank You everyone I appreciate your comments.. I think I bought a cheap upper plate .. I keep trying but still play better without them... I'm going to talk to the dentist about some implants (maybe he'll want to trade haha)because I sure hate these teeth it makes me feel Like I have a mouth full of something in my throte and I keep gagging Bummer !! Thanks for the advice..your friend in music and art.....BB