 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-06-30 22:39
Hi.
I am not very pleased right now, so forgive me if I sound unhappy. I have learned that I will need to get braces for my upper teeth 'cause of ONE tooth. Will this affect my embouchure any? And will it affect my ability to play?
Thanx in advance,
the rising freshman,
Nicole Y.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 1999-06-30 22:50
I'm afraid to say that it will affect you, Nicole. But ...
If you're like other people I know who got braces (and I know one very personally :^) you'll compensate. It'll probably be uncomfortable at first.
Make sure you tell the orthodontist that you play clarinet; in fact, it might be a good idea to bring your mouthpiece with you and demonstrate the position. I know my son's orthodontist made sure that the wires on my son's bands didn't interfere too much with his embouchure after we demonstrated a problem to him.
Good luck! You'll do just fine.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Judy
Date: 1999-06-30 23:10
It did not affect my son badly either and I think that braces are improving my younger son's trumpet skills. Just keep the Tylenol or Advil handy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-07-01 02:03
If it's just the top, it shouldn't affect your playing much, if at all. Unless you play double lip. Might cause some air leakage that will just take a few days to get used to what you need to do with your lips to compensate for the new space added by the braces.
Of course, there's the week of pain as soon as you get the braces. and then the periodic tightening which hurts or about a day or so... but otherwise.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Robyn
Date: 1999-07-01 02:19
Hi!
I wear braces on both the top and bottom, and they haven't affected my playing that much. The only thing I can't do now that I could before is play with a double lip embouchure. Also, sometimes the braces may rub the inside of your lip when you play and irritate it, so see if your orthodontist has some little plastic strips that fit over the braces. I've used these in the past, and they at least help a little.
Robyn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 1999-07-01 14:38
I wouldn't worry too much about the braces. I had 'em for a few years when I was in junior high school, and they didn't affect my playing at all. A suggestion: If you don't already use them, a good mouthpiece patch can make the mouthpiece more comfortable (I like the thin, clear plastic Bay patches sold by The Woodwind & The Brasswind, but any of the other types would also help). Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amanda Limoges
Date: 1999-07-01 22:03
As a former brace-face, I have to tell you that it does affect your playing, mainly at first. The only real problem I had was the braces cutting the inside of my lip. For that, all you have to do is put some wax over the metal, and you shouldn't have any more problems. (well, and when you first get your teeth readjusted, its harder to play, but after a couple of days, you'll be fine.)
Amanda
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-07-01 23:59
Thanx. My mother was about to go overboard and ban all my clarinet playing, but I convinced her to wait until we heard what the orthodontist said. I like my setup now, and I don't think I will change it much just for the braces. I have a Vandoren B45 with a Runyon Mouthpiece Patch, Noblet clarinet, and the reeds depend on whatever I'm experimenting with. I am GREATLY relieved that it should not affect me too much 'cause one of the first things in my mind was whether or not I had to give up my great passion: the clarinet. So thanx again everyone.
the rising freshman (soon to enter 9th),
Nicole Y.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
