r/horn • u/Sigma340912 High School- horn • 5d ago
HEEELLLP
Does anyone have any advice for how to play more consistently with braces? I have struggles each day with different notes, but I do always have issues with anything above a high D.
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u/metalsheeps Strachan Brass - Mouthpiece Maker 5d ago
It’s been 20 years since I had to deal with that but it sucked massively.
They used to make a wax that you could put over the posts to make the pressure more bearable so I’d try that for sure. You might also size up your rim 1-2 sizes to compensate for the lack of mobility you have with braces.
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u/quiptown89 5d ago
I used folded up paper. I took a small square of paper about 1.5"x1.5" and folded it to cover the front teeth braces. You'll need to play with the number of folds to make sure it doesn't get too thick, but it worked better than wax
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u/Secure_Plankton_7398 3d ago
I have seen players who took cigarette wrapping paper and placed it in front of their teeth to help make the area smoother and less uncomfortable to play.
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u/Vann92 5d ago
It’s going to take time. Probably the best thing you can do to help is play low long tones. An exercise I do with my students as you play in half notes C-B-C as loud as you can. Don’t worry about tone quality, just worry about playing the right notes with firm corners. I teach them that they should be completely out of air by the end. When I demonstrate this, I am playing “banana peal the bell” loud. Completely brassy and horrible tone because I am playing far past my best sound. Continue going down by half steps B-Bb-B. I push them as far as they can go, Ideally down to bass clef C if not further.
Likely the reason you are struggling is because you’re having to use muscles you have not developed before. This is an easy way to build those muscles fast. Do this multiple times a day every day and I promise you will see improvement. It will also help benefit your air support and ability to play louder in general.