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tom turner · 07-22-2007, 10:24 AM

As a teenager, I had braces for FIVE years. I got them off around graduation time in high school in '69. They'd been a royal pain to my playing, but I'd managed to be the first chair player at a large high school.

The old-style braces had metal bands around teeth with wires CLIPPED onto the front of the teeth with big rectangular metal clips, so the radical change meant I had to start all over again.

RESULTS . . .The first day . . . I couldn't buzz a note.

The second, a little better.

A month later I was playing far better than ever!!! The radical change in my mouth allowed me to re-learn the way to play the horn without the habitual incorporation of my former bad habits. Particularly, my "second time around" I learned to play without much pressure, amoungst other things.

My performance level skyrocketed and it allowed me to major in music in college, play solo trumpet in an Army band, and then move on to play professionally for several years as a civilian. I still play a lot and I could have never done any of this if I hadn't been forced to relearn the horn without incorporating all those school kid mistakes.

Today, I'm particularly grateful that I got a "second chance" to learn a correct embouchere without also having to cheat on what my high school band director was trying to get me to do all along . . . just to get me through a performance.

IN SHORT . . . I believe that removal of braces doesn't have to be the end of the world . . . or getting braces either!

The hardest thing for most players is losing their abilities temporarily but, if they can get over that, there's no reason that most folks can't come back better than ever.

T.

07-22-2007, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
tom turner Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 788	Re: Life after braces... As a teenager, I had braces for FIVE years. I got them off around graduation time in high school in '69. They'd been a royal pain to my playing, but I'd managed to be the first chair player at a large high school. The old-style braces had metal bands around teeth with wires CLIPPED onto the front of the teeth with big rectangular metal clips, so the radical change meant I had to start all over again. RESULTS . . .The first day . . . I couldn't buzz a note. The second, a little better. A month later I was playing far better than ever!!! The radical change in my mouth allowed me to re-learn the way to play the horn without the habitual incorporation of my former bad habits. Particularly, my "second time around" I learned to play without much pressure, amoungst other things. My performance level skyrocketed and it allowed me to major in music in college, play solo trumpet in an Army band, and then move on to play professionally for several years as a civilian. I still play a lot and I could have never done any of this if I hadn't been forced to relearn the horn without incorporating all those school kid mistakes. Today, I'm particularly grateful that I got a "second chance" to learn a correct embouchere without also having to cheat on what my high school band director was trying to get me to do all along . . . just to get me through a performance. IN SHORT . . . I believe that removal of braces doesn't have to be the end of the world . . . or getting braces either! The hardest thing for most players is losing their abilities temporarily but, if they can get over that, there's no reason that most folks can't come back better than ever. T. Last edited by tom turner; 07-22-2007 at 10:29 AM.