I've recently got fixed braces (a few days ago) (which is fine, I am not finding too much of a problem) but because I have a take-in take-out brace I haven't touched my clarinet since!

The problem is that the more time I have it out of my mouth, the longer my treatment... normally I practise clarinet a lot (though even that has reduced - since starting yr 10 I've been bombarded with 'not allowed an A, only an A*... and every teacher is putting loads of pressure on me...)

So, basically, I don't feel like playing my clarinet and I know it will still hurt when I play because it does when I eat. Also, I'm worried my tone will be lost now and I'll have to spend ages getting it back... uuuh... oh, and I forgot to tell my new teacher (who is excellent, btw) that I was getting braces... so I've not practised what I'm meant to have. Arg, arg, arg!

I'm sure your teacher will be understanding, they will probably have taught a pupil before with braces and will know what it feels like.

When practising, even if it is *really* depressing, try and do short practice sessions, to slowly bring you back into playing. Longer ones will just cause you pain, and be no good in the long run. Gradually increase the time, and hopefully your tone should come back gradually, if it has deteriorated at all!

Ignore teachers who put pressure on you in year 10. If they think you are capable of getting As and A*, then you probably won't need to work as much as you think.

thats a bit meahn i would consider an A* a bonus A

Ouch. From experience, braces are painful, but the pain should ease after about 3-5 days. Have you talked to your teachers about the pressure? It definitely isn't a good thing. Play some fun things, to get you back to enjoying your clarinet.

Pupil had braces fitted earlier in the year. He too found that it hurt to play at first, but (thanks to some brilliant advice I received here!) I told him to stick with it, playing in short bursts, but not to play through the pain. He still has them, but they aren't an issue any more.

Yabba, you don't say what level you're at. Could this be a golden opportunity to practise aural skills in your clarinet lessons? <ducks for cover>

Hi elmo,

I tried playing a little bit earlier. Thankfully the tone's not too bad! but when I put my top teeth on the mouthpiece it feels really awkward (and that is how I normally play...) I just tried to keep the rhythms steady, because I found that dynamics and stresses (which I normally find so easy and natural) were quite difficult to do without hurting my mouth even more.

Thanks for the advice! I will have another short go soon.

Katy

Well only one of our subjects has modular exams, but I was told that if I get an A then I should really re-sit to get an A*... and they just continually blah on about the grades! Personally, I think they should shush and remember what it's like being a teenager!

Yes, ouch! Hopefully! They just tell me to ignore it - I tried talking to my head of year - she said that she knows I can get them and just to block it out. My annoyance doesn't lie with trying to get high grades, only with them talking about it all the time - I do what I will do whether I'm pushed or not, and I naturally aim high so I don't see the need for what they call 'encouragement'. I played some jazzy stuff (which I don't normally play - my old teacher made me do classical on the whole), so it was sort of fun... but also painful!

Good advice - I shouldn't complain so much!

Ermmm...well... I've only been playing for about 4 years, but really got into it last year... I did grade 4 this spring (distinction) so can do grade 4 type pieces well, but have some more challenging g5/6 stuff that I try too.

Ansolutely - they don't realise how much pressure they end up putting you under at an age when you should also have a chance to enjoy life!

Good for you, don't let them dictate to you.

I overheard my bassoon teacher telling a student who just got braces that florist's tape over the teeth will help.

i get so cynical when i read about this industry in teeth braces

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i never played in braces because i use a belt unless i'm wearing shorts or joggers with a elastic waist.

I did modular exams in Science and Maths. In Science I got about 2 A*, 3 As and a B or something like that and for Maths I got 2 As, and overall I got 2 A*s for both subjects. My friend was ill on the day of one of her modules, came in and got a D, but because she had A/A* on her other modules and coursework she was told not to resit it. She got an A* overall too.

Pressure is awful. For my GCSEs (I ended up with 9 A* and an A), people were just expecting me to do well in every exam. My Graphics teacher basically said that if I walked into the exam I'd get an A* (that was what I got an A in, I must have gone wrong on the exam..well I didn't understand it). It is even worse when people think you'll automatically do well. Good for you playing jazzy stuff. Why not do lots of listening too - to any types of music. If you want to talk about braces/grades/anything, just PM me