 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2003-01-21 14:49
Over a week ago I got braces. Man am I hurting! I have a low-grade headache most of the time and my teeth are so tender that I can only eat mashed up foods. Needless to say I haven't touched my clarinet in a week.
Right now my mouth is recovering from all the chafing that those sharp little brackets have made on the inside of my lips. I've been applying wax like crazy.
Although people have assured me that one can still play with braces, I still remain skeptical. Some people have suggested that I finger my clarinet without actually blowing into it. But that reminds me of a downhill skier who broke his leg and decided that holding his skis would improve his skiing.
So for now I've admitted the possibility that I might not be able to play the clarinet for the 15 months that the braces will be on.
During that time I've decided to give myself a really thorough and in-depth refresher course on music theory. I have daily access to a piano so I can play the musical concepts as they are described and get an aural imprint as well. I plan to explore chords, inversions etc: most concepts that can often elude a player of an instrument that can only play one note at a time.
Can anyone suggest what else I can do that would augment my clarinet (music making) playing during this time?
Also, how quickly will I get my chops back after 15 months of not playing?
Take care,
Josh
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kim
Date: 2003-01-21 15:36
I played with braces. But, first you start slowly and work up. Expect it to hurt. You'll be fine.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-01-21 16:03
I also played with braces for 2 years. It does hurt when they put them on, but the pain does go away (until they tighten them on your next visit!). Don't despair, you'll be able to play!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-01-21 16:15
Josh, I got braces when I was in the 9th grade and wore them throughout my high school days. The first month I was unable to eat much of anything and remember the pain of trying to eat a french fry. After that it got easier. Except for a couple of days after having them adjusted each month, I was able to play and eat without pain. Yes, you'll have to keep that wax over your braces to keep down the cuts on the inside of your mouth, but after a few weeks you won't need as much wax. In a month or two you'll probably only need the wax on a couple of new places. Your mouth will "toughen" and you'll find that you can do well on your instrument.
My director sent me home with a French horn, and although I always liked the instrument, I went back to clarinet because it really wasn't much less pain. I did bounce a bit in the section at first, but ended up first chair and am still playing after all these years. Oh--the year I got my braces was 1963. But the pain is the same.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kim
Date: 2003-01-21 16:18
Folding cigarette paper over the braces helps more than the wax. I used this paper. Try it!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Sloss
Date: 2003-01-21 18:26
As the great Dr. Zachary Smith would say: "Oh, the pain, the pain..."
It never really goes away. You'll build up a tough patch on your lower lip that will protect you from grinding against the hardware, but that will take some time. The ache comes and goes, and does indeed come back with a vengeance when Orin Scrivello is in there making adjustments with a torque wrench.
Don't stop -- take this as an opportunity to work on relaxing your embouchere. You'll end up with a nicer sound for the trouble. It is going to hurt regardless. Might as well keep going with the clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bart Hendrix
Date: 2003-01-21 22:11
You will be able to continue playing. I had my braces in the days when they put a metal band around every tooth -- not just the glue on clips they use on many teeth now. It took some slow build-up to get back to where I was, but after that the problam was only a few days at a time after they were adjusted. Once I got my mouth used to them being there, the braces themselves caused little problem.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Pegel
Date: 2003-01-22 03:17
There are many different sorts of mouthguards you can fashion for your playing. Cigarette paper I had not personally tried. I used wax of all sorts, plumber's tape that I got from a friend, cotton or felt strips cut to a quarter-inch width, that sort of stuff. Someone I know once recommended denture adhesive strips or something like that, but I never saw how that would help. Just keep some saltwater handy in case you accidentally cut your lip and need to swish. (gross, I know, but it's happened to me.)
In the meantime, while you're still recovering from the initial shock of the braces, study up on music theory and just be glad you don't play trumpet. From what I understand brass instruments take much more getting used to after braces than the clarinet does. (I heard a French horn player complain about extensive surgery to his mouth so he wouldn't have to have braces... no joke.)
I think the music theory study is a <i>great</i> idea - one that some more people I know should take up - but don't do it in excess. What good is understanding the music on the page if you can't play it?
*gets off of soapbox and runs for the door*
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Susan
Date: 2003-01-22 21:47
I played for a year with braces. Your teeth will hurt until they get used to the braces, and they will hurt for a few days when the braces get tightened. I used wax on mine. I auditioned for and got into All-State band with my braces on. Don't despair! You will be able to play when your teeth get used to the newness of the braces.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cindy
Date: 2003-01-25 01:59
I played with braces for four years, just got them off a year ago. I found that even though it seems like you'll never be able to play with them on, the pain does dull after a week or so. I was very successful playing clarinet with braces, and it got to the point where there was no pain when I played, even without wax. Then, after I got the braces off, not only did my range increase 3 notes, but I have a whole lot of endurance. Even at an honor thing I recently did, the first chair guy was exhausted and complained about how much his lip hurt after six hours of playing. Because my lip is so toughened up from playing with braces I felt fine, and was ready for yet another 6 hours. So, be greatful you have this opportunity to improve your endurance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2003-01-27 14:22
Cindy,
Thanks for the insight. I just started playing after two weeks of not playing. While I'm getting more squeeks than before, I've noticed my tone is still pretty good. Also my lips are getting tougher. To echo your experiences, I've been getting the impression that after this is done I will have a significantly toughened mouth. Also, because there is so much metalwork in my mouth that it seems like I have to use more muscles to seal off the mouthpiece. Yet I've had to relax overall because any slight tension produces a squeek. Not that I would wish anyone would need to wear braces, but in addition to straight teeth, I can now see some long term benefits to my clarinet playing as a result of having them.
Take care
Josh
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
