Expert: Geoffrey Bridge - 11/10/2009

Question
I’ve just had braces fitted and on my bottom teeth am in a lot of pain. My embouchure is nonexistent and my tone is terrible! Do you have any tips for controlling the sound and making it a bit more bearable?! I have been playing for 10 years and I’m frightened all my hard work will go down the pan and I’ll pick up bad habits!

Thank you.


Answer
Dear Alexandra

What a pain having to have braces fixed - in more ways than one!

I think that you will get accustomed to them over time. I have had pupils with the same problem  and they always overcome them.
If you need a protection to keep the inside of your lips away from the metal you can use a form of lip guard made of cigarette paper. Just fold one over and tuck inside the lip and it will help to keep the irritation of the metal away from the sensitive fleshy part of the inside of your lip. If in doubt go back to your dentist and discuss it with him

Another possibility is to try a clarinet lip guard which you can buy online or in a good music dealers. It might help but also you may find it too big. That is why ciggy paper is quite good. It's very thin. You have to use a new one each time of course.

Make sure that your reeds allow you to play without too much lip pressure. Then you can keep your lips away fro the teeth a fraction and hey presto in no time a at all you will forget the ironwork. Don't forget the ironwork is worth using in the end.

Don't despair everything should be OK with a bit of care and not too much practise!!

Best wishes

Geoffrey