Anonymous wrote:I just asked my college aged son, a tuba player, his thoughts. He feels like it was actually easier to play when he had his braces because of the way they made him have to set his lips. It was a very big adjustment when he got them off and he feels like he was a little bit of a better player when he had them on.

(Okay, now that's he's not looking at my screen anymore, I think that his playing plateaued because he stopped practicing so much. He knew he was good and didn't want to spend the extra effort to be great, but oh well. His choice. I suppose my dreams of him being a world famous tuba player are crushed now that he has stopped playing completely.)

Ha! Thanks for this!

I just asked my college aged son, a tuba player, his thoughts. He feels like it was actually easier to play when he had his braces because of the way they made him have to set his lips. It was a very big adjustment when he got them off and he feels like he was a little bit of a better player when he had them on.

(Okay, now that's he's not looking at my screen anymore, I think that his playing plateaued because he stopped practicing so much. He knew he was good and didn't want to spend the extra effort to be great, but oh well. His choice. I suppose my dreams of him being a world famous tuba player are crushed now that he has stopped playing completely.)

Middle school and high school bands are filled with kids playing instruments of all kids with braces.

I learned to play the trumpet with braces. To be honest, sometimes it did hurt a bit, but I think that was mostly because I was playing a part that was too high for my skill level and was pressing to hard to try to hit the notes. (Trumpet was my 2nd instrument, and I was just playing it for marching band, not the entire year, so I never really developed a good embouchure). The other (full-time) trumpeters never seemed to have much problems with their braces.

Both trumpet and clarinet kids played thru braces without complaining. Oops, I think I forgot to ask them if it hurt their mouth! Another northern fail.

My 4th grader is just starting trumpet with braces on. No complaints of pain yet.

Thanks for all the feedback! And that great link!

Anonymous wrote: You just have to adjust your embouchure and be prepared to use dental wax, etc. if needed.

Here's a great tip sheet:

http://www.northbaytrumpetstudio.com/studio/braces.html

I have had two get braces (and get them off) and continue to play their instruments. It might take some adjustment when you get them on AND when you get them off, and a little relearning of your embouchure, but none of it should hurt. Our orthodontist is very supporting of kids playing instruments and just told my girls to keep playing but to give it a few weeks of playing to make the adjustment. The only thing that the band director asked was for the girls NOT to get their braces on or off right before a concert.

hm... our fourth grader played trumpet, but dropped it for 5th grade because she was getting braces. Her main instrument is piano, which she'll continue to play. Partly it seemed like it would hurt the inside of her mouth to have the braces press into them so hard. But the other PPs are making me think maybe we made a mistake! The reason for braces is that her front teeth stick out too much, so they will be moving a good deal in the next few years. Her dad played trumpet for years as a child/teen, and he thought it wasn't a good instrument for her. I think he was concerned about pressure on the teeth over the long term, if she started playing it seriously. (I think once your teeth have moved a good deal, they are more susceptible to move again/some more.) Though maybe that would be a good thing! ie, pressure on the teeth would keep them from moving forward after they've been corrected? Also, he might have been concerned about the circulatory/heart effects of trumpet playing, as he himself has high blood pressure. No idea. I guess over all these are not very good reasons. I'd have my child continue playing trumpet if they really love to play it and it's his/her main instrument.

my son has been playing with braces for 2 years now.

Lots of wax. It gets better over time.

- former high school musician

You just have to adjust your embouchure and be prepared to use dental wax, etc. if needed.

Here's a great tip sheet:

http://www.northbaytrumpetstudio.com/studio/braces.html

My trombone player manages to play.

My trumpet player got braces in 8th grade. He started private trumpet lessons right after. It helped so much.

Anyone's DC been able to continue playing the trumpet with braces? My DS is quite upset about the prospect of trying to play with braces.