 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ron Jr.
Date: 2004-09-15 14:53
Has anyone noticed how their playing has improved after having braces.
Backround: I had braces for two year. Every tooth in my mouth was rotated and out of place. Four months ago I got them taken off and began practicing every day for at least an hour. I am now almost as good as I was before, technically.
Here is what I've noticed:
I am easily to tongue the altissimo notes: above second ledger line c to the next c. I was unable to do this before.
I have much more tonal control to flatten and sharpen notes.
I don't get as tired. Sometimes I play for three hours and stop only because I feel I should give my neighbors a break. I could NEVER play more than an hour and a half before I had braces.
I'm very excited because I now have all this endurance, control, and confidence. It really has made a difference in my playing. And my teacher agrees.
Has anyone experienced a real improvement in their embouchure as a result of having braces.
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Author: AJDar
Date: 2004-09-15 21:17
Absolutely! I didn't get braces until I was 30 years old. Wore them for 1 1/2 years, then had a mandibular reduction (took several mm's out of each side of my jawbone) to correct a severe underbite. After surgery, I had another 6 months in braces. Talk about changing your embouchure!
While in HS and college I played pretty well and regularly, even though I opted to make music an avocation rather than vocation. After surgery, I signed up for a community band to ease back into things. It didn't take long to get used to my new embouchure, and I did notice a big improvement in tongueing speed and overall ease of playing. I am now 45 and just splurged on a new R13 last year. All of my playing is just for fun - primarily church orchestra, ensembles and a little bit of solo work.
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-09-15 21:37
I started playing with braces on, and when I got them off it markes the 9 month period I had been playing... I did practice for three hours at a time but my braces always cut into my bottom lip... Now that I don't have that problem, it's easier... Everything will just keep getting better, congrats on getting them off... I had mine on for about 4 1/2 years...
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