Any teachers out there with experience of pupils having dental braces fitted? This can be a devastating problem particularly on Upper Brass Instruments. Have tried pupils with various types of wax and covers.
The only solution I have found to work is to restrict the range of the player concerned until the ironmongery is removed. This can be very frustrating for all concerned. Any ideas?

As a trumpeter myself, I was fitted with braces at the age of 14, and I'm afraid it wasn't good! The orthodontist provided me with the wax stuff to cover over it, but as you say this left me with virtually no top register.
The braces were fitted just before I joined my area youth orchestra, and I had to pull out of the summer course because I simply couldn't play well enough. When faced with a choice between perfect teeth and being able to play the trumpet well for the next 2 years, it was a simple decision: the braces came off!
Had my parents been less understanding, or my dental problems been more severe, I would have had to look into playing something like the trombone or E flat horn, but I've not heard how players of these instruments get on with braces.
Incidentally, the orthodontists were absolutely horrible when I went along to have the braces removed. In their world, having anything less than perfect teeth is tantamount to failure, and they were so violent when they removed them that, 15 years later, when I switched dentists, he couldn't work out why most of my teeth had lumps of concrete on them. It turned out the orthodontist was so enraged that couldn't be bothered to remove the fixing substance!
Sorry I can't be more positive, but I'd say braces aren't compatible with trumpeting (and presumably horn playing too).

I learnt the trumpet as a teenager in the 80s, and had a visit to the orthodontist aged 14. I mentioned that I played the trumpet, and he was quite OK about it and said in that case I would need removable braces not fixed ones. I know that fixed braces are much more common these days - and more effective - but it might be worth seeing if there is an alternative.

I played the cornet for almost 2 years then i was told that i had to have braces, unfortunately my playing got so bad that i decided to change instruments and moved onto play Eb Horn instead. It was less painful. Its worth checking to see if there are any alternatives though.

I started playing the trumpet back in the 70's, with a brace, however, at that time they were removable and therefore did not cause any problem.
I have been teaching trumpet for a number of years and come up against the problem of fixed braces quite frequently.

It seems that the dental profession is now obsessed with achieving that 'Hollywood' smile for everyone. following in the steps of the american way, yet again I'm afraid!!!

The braces tend to get fitted at around 13 - 14yrs of age and can be worn for over 2 yrs. This is a critical time for the developing trumpet student, and sadly as a result of trying to obtain that 'perfect' smile, I have lost many talented students. With all the other distractions youngsters have these days, few, if any, will return to playing.

It seems we are destined to have a whole generation with very few accomplished players, largely due to these braces..as sadly I know of no answer to this problem. I assure you that as a professional trumpet player and teacher I find this very frustrating!!.....Still, at least all the youngsters will be able to give a 'beautiful' smile about it! As will the dentists as they see there pension funds expand!!!

hello! i had a friend that wore braces while he was learning and he still managed to play.... if you keep practising as normal, however painful it may be, you'll improve masses.

you improve because you learn to play without pressure on the lips (a common flaw in trumpeters) so hang in there and try your best, that's the only advice i have.

KEEP MUSIC LIVE!!!!!!!!!

JAIME

My experience of fixed dental braces was when my son had them fitted a few years ago. He was working towards grade 3 trumpet at the time. He struggled, and on the suggestion of his teacher he changed instruments and played the euphonium instead for a while. Unfortunately he didn't find it a pleasurable experience and stopped having lessons altogether.
Although I felt it was a shame that he didn't persevere, at least he had gained some musical experience, which is better than nothing at all.
He now has really lovely teeth and hasn't altogether dismissed the idea of resuming lessons.[!]
I must admit, I don't recall the orthodontist ever asking about playing musical instruments before he attached the brace. It would have been good to just discuss the possible difficulties encountered. For someone who is very focussed on playing an instrument, it may be a case of deciding whether to have the brace or not. I know an adult who was working for his grade 8 trombone a couple of years ago and he found it affected his playing quite a lot.

hi im janets daughter and although i play the clarinet ive got a brace and am getting a fixed one in about a week. Apparantly you can buy brace guards that slip over the brace to protect the lip from the abrsm catalogue, but im never worn one and dont know how it would affect the sound. a trumpeter i know had a brace for about a year and although she was set bk she stuck with it and ended up doing a grade. You can realluy tell the difference now its off!soz i cant be more help.

hiya!

just lookin at your posts! how you getting on with braces?

have you took any advice from anyone?

just wondering?

jaime

I am meant to be getting a brace soon ( I have very wonky teeth), but I am worried about how it will affect my playing - I currently play the trumpet and cornet at grade 4 level, am in a band and play at school and I definetely do not want to give up. How much do they restrict playing, how high might I expect to be able to get (I can just about reach top C now)?

I teach alot of pupils with braces. The trick I have found is teach them to breathe correctly and to use more air to support their playing in order to take the pressure off their lips, they have to take things easily at first. Initially this can be frustrating for the player (and the teacher) but by taking them back to basics and rebuilding their techniques long term this can have a very beneficial effect as when the braces come off they are better equipped to make rapid progress. Unfortunately as the braces are tightened every six weeks back to basics occurs frequently, however as they progress the back to basics does not have to go back as far each time. Take the time that the braces are on to develop other skills, low note development, aural skills, sight-reading, rhythm drills. It is up to the teacher to maintain the interest and enthusiasm of the pupil and "nurse" them through this difficult period. To the pupils most off all - hang in there, it's worth it in the end.

It's nothing to do with music, but how do people actually clean their teeth with the modern permanantly fitted braces - or do they finish up with perfectly straight but mildly decayed teeth (and given-up brass players)?

You end up with slightly yellowish teeth around the brace. But it's not permanent, and you can have them rewhitened by a dentist - worth the £300 or so. Or you can just buy the dental kit from ebay for about £20 - it works, but if you do it wrong you start dissolving bits of your gums!

to be completely honest braces arent that bad! im a trumpeter and I had braces for 3 years. i stopped getting lessons but i was still able to play relatively well its honestly not too bad! and think of the results afterwards!!

also about getting teeth whitened, you can buy little brushes in places like boots for brushing in between the brackets of your braces and these really help too!!

It is good to hear some success stories. My daughter is about to have a brace and plays the trumpet. It seems that you need to persevere ! It is good to hear the experiences of others.

How far does getting a brace tend to set people back?

My daughter has had her brace for around 6 weeks now. She had passed Grade 4 in July this year. She started playing straight after her braces were fitted and is building up playing time again. She is confident on Grade 2/3 music, as she finds the top notes hardest. Saying that, she does still play in the Wind Band she was in before, and she just misses out the higher notes.
She has been using a 'lip protector' - which is a piece of plastic that clips easily on and off the braces. Without it on she sounds like a beginner ( the air seems to push up through the braces) - but with it the tone is good.
I am hoping she will carry on playing - she has a new teacher as she has just started secondary school, but he is supportive. She has to practice long notes, and preferably a little every day.
Hope this helps !!
Jo

Thanks Jo, I'm supposed to be getting braces quite soon, and I guess I'll have them for quite a long time. I just wanted to know how much difference it will make because I play in a band at the moment and I am just rather worried that I won't be able to manage the pieces any more!

QUOTE (chrisgs @ Oct 3 2004, 08:36 PM)

Thanks Jo, I'm supposed to be getting braces quite soon, and I guess I'll have them for quite a long time. I just wanted to know how much difference it will make because I play in a band at the moment and I am just rather worried that I won't be able to manage the pieces any more!

Hope the braces go ok chrisgs - you really do just need to keep playing - my daughters teacher said to play anything, a little every day. She has managed to carry on paying in her Wind Band as there are a few trumpets so she just misses out the notes she can't manage and no-one notices ! Her band teacher is also very supportive, praising her for still coming along to band & trying hard, so that helps. Just keep going!

I didn't take up the French horn until after I had my braces off... but according to a fellow horn player from one of the orchestras I play at, playing the instrument is much easier if you have straight teeth. Also, when trying out brass instruments on an open day when I still had my brace, I still found it possible to get a sound out of the instrument: I think it's something that brass players can definitely get used to... it's quite painful at first, but you won't notice it after a while!