Wearing Braces - Playing
Brass ?
Now, does this
plus this
mean
this
???
There were questions from
the net about that a couple of times. Here is what I use to reply:
Usually : Yes, but.....
look at the embouchure this
way:
Regarding its anatomy, it
is a three - part - system:
- the outside part is the
mouthpiece
- the middle part are the
lips and the related muscles
- the inside part are teeth
and jaws
Remember, that you did a
very careful and reasonable choice when picking a mouthpiece.
You found, that slight changes
of the outside of embouchure system (mouthpiece, rim contour, cup depth
etc) have significant effects on brass playing behavior.
So we are talking of dimensions
of at least tenth (if not hundreds) of millimeters.
Realize, that labial (at
the facial side of teeth) placed braces occupy a space of a couple of
millimeters.
Such changes of the embouchures
inside part must have dramatic results for its owner, not to mention the
sharp edgy design of the braces.
What to do ?
In my opinion, there are
following possibilities:
- Use removable orthodontic
constructions
- Compromise: Having conventional
braces, use almost pressless embouchure ( maybe possible for lower brass,
difficult for lead trumpet).
- Use braces applied to
the oral (palatinal) side of teeth. This method originated from the US,
but I know, that there are problems with these constructions, too.
Ask your orthodontist about
this and have your instrument about for dental appointments.
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Copyright Dr. Jochen Dornbusch 1999
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