How to Play a Trumpet Better With Braces

Braces don't have to mean the end of a young trumpet player's career.

Any trumpet player knows that his embouchure, or the shaping and tensing of his lips, is extremely important to the quality of his playing. When a young player gets braces, he must adapt to the effects they will have on his embouchure, as well as learn how to play without causing pain or harm to his mouth. Fortunately this process, while by no means quick, is hardly an insurmountable task for the trumpet player who wants to play as proficiently as before.

Instructions

Start slow

1. You're going to have to get used to how your lips will sit on top of your braces now, so don't rush into playing. Practice at first by forming your lips into your embouchure and buzzing, or buzzing through your mouthpiece. Try to use this as an opportunity to learn to play with as little pressure on your lips as possible.

2. Once you feel ready to play with your full instrument, start with basic exercises, such as long tones and slurs, until you're more comfortable. This process could take some time, so don't feel discouraged if you don't immediately bounce back to your previous playing level.

3. Practice, practice, practice. Nothing can help you relearn how to play more than devoting a lot of time to playing. Work your way back up to the pieces that you were playing before you got your braces. However, don't strain yourself. Talk to your orthodontist or music instructor if playing causes you pain. Some aching in your teeth may occur if you apply too much pressure to them while playing. Applying wax to the braces on your front teeth can help if your braces have the tendency to dig into your lips.

References

• Braces and playing the trumpet