I got braces put on the second year of my playing, too. As I wasn't very good the first year (who is?) I didn't really notice any playing changes, other than endurance loss due to the metal digging into my lips. I got one of the plastic bumper guards, and it helped with the cuts and the pain. I was too young to really notice anything about my playing, articulation and tone-wise, but I do know that when I first started playing, I had a well-placed embouchure. When I got the braces off, the embouchure had changed. So, it might be a thing to keep an eye on. I assume that I moved my lips to the most comfortable position for the brace. I got them taken off the day before my high school marching band camp started, and that was a treat.... it felt like everything was sliding all over the place. But, playing 12 hours a day for 2 weeks straight, even though it was on a mellophone, really helped with the adjustment period. By the time I was back on my horn, I was playing better tha n ever . Since the mellophone was new for me, and it's a horrible instrument, I didn't have many issues with the post-braces adjustment. The thing that is killing me almost 10 years later is the embouchure... I never really noticed it until I got to college, because my private instructor just let it go. Now, I am in the process of changing it, right before grad school auditions... I only wish someone would have *made* me change it back when it went wrong. So, keep an eye out...
Amy Krueger -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Steve Freides" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 3:15 PM > > To: horn@music.memphis.edu > > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Braces > > > > I have recently had a pupil afflicted by a brace on his > > teeth. He's an intelligent lad and I warned him of the > > worst effects - bad tone, difficulty in the upper register. > > I made him aware of every bad effect I could imagine so that > > nothing would be a shock to him. Thankfully, the effects > > were not so bad as I had painted and instead of being > > distraught at how badly his playing was affected, he was > > somewhat relieved. > > > > The brace came off two or three weeks ago and after a short > > period of re-adjustment he is now playing much better than > > ever - his tone is good and his control has returned. > > We had the same experience with my son - within a few weeks of getting > braces, his playing returned to most of what it had been, and once the > braces came off, all was well after a brief adjustment period. > > Bottom line - everyone's different, but braces are _much_ better (read: less > intrusive in all ways) than they used to be, and most brass-playing kids > seem to do fine with them. > > -S- > > _______________________________________________ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/akruegs629%40comcast.net _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
