i had teh same problem your having ( minus the braces ). This is what happened to me.....my mouthpeice slipped. originally it was in a good position right on the center of the lips....a little to the right. ( everyone is a little different ) but.....after a combination of too much playing...too much pressure among other things it eventually slipped down and i was playing on the "red meat" meaning just a slivver of teh inside of my lip. You cant bget much vibration out of that. so i had to replace my mouthpeice. i Tried a bunch of complicated excersises, but after asking some profesors at Capital Univercity, the Eastman school of music, and some local trumpet players, they all said the best thing to do was just to not touch the trumpet for at least 3 weeks, and than start from scratch. i did that, and i`ve never felt better. Not saying this is your problem, but a break off the trumpet for a while and a compleate restart could fix eveything.

Hope i helped

I had orthodontic braces for my entire four years of high school. (1990-94) They were the best teaching tool I could of ever asked for, but they were also the most frustrating. Anyone with braces needs to know that he or she must learn how to hold the instrument still. I did extensive research on the matter. Hang the trumpet on your left hand by facing your left palm to the right (fingers pointed upward) and drop your thumb and pinky to act as hooks for the bell tube. Avoid contact with the valves by resting the tube on your fingers on the outside of the valve casings (lest you may use pressure otherwise). Take your right index finger and touch your teeth to make sure they are directly in line. Now stretch your lips around the braces so that they can make contact and make hundreds of careful very soft starts on second line G. BE PATIENT. Your upper back may hurt and it will be extremely awkward. Take frequent breaks and sing the note as a meditative drone. Do this for a week and learn what one note feels like. Extend all your range and technique from this point. I spent 8-10 hours a day during the summers and every month when my braces were tightened I studied the change. I wish I could have used it for a independant Doctoral study because I certainly put in the time for it.

This is the only pedagogy that got me positive results when I had the braces, and made the transition to getting them off quick and methodical. I still play without pressure and check this technique to make sure I am not forcing anything. How patient can you be? How much do you really want to shine?

In the countless hours of frustration and growth I came up with this: "Nothing in life is hard or difficult, it is merely unfamiliar. MAKE IT FAMILIAR." -Megules-


*There is also a new product called the Morgan Bumper. It is a thin piece of PVC that covers the daggers. Look it up. It was unavailable to me , but if it is good I'd like to know.*

As far as range goes, try doing some clarke studies... if you don't know what those are they go like (in the key of B-flat concert, our C) C,D,E,C,d,E,F,D,E,F,G,E (back down to) C,D,E,C,D,E,F,C, (then down to) B,C,D,B,C,E,D,C,D,F,E,D, then hold out a C for 4 counts. Those are all in eighth notes. I reccommend playing them in the octave you need to work on, but play them each like quarter notes at (quarter note) =80.

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Also be sure to slur them all.

I had the same problem a few months ago, but after about two weeks , I was back to normal, and after that I only got better. It may seem worse now but it actually helps your tone and range a lot. And if you just got your braces on (other entry) than you cant expect to be as good, that is simply the way it is.

I started playing trumpet with braces. So basically my embrochure was wrong from the beginning. Then I recently got them off and I was all thinking, " Oh, I can play my trumpet better because I can do a better embrocure!" Then i put my trumpet to my lips and the most horrible sound came out. I think I have to start all over again.

Does anyone have any tips on how to do the correct embrochure? I usually see pursed lips and tight corners...
I'm sure everyone has their styles, but there seems to be a basic way to do it.
Thank you!

find a good embouchure and stick with it. It doesn't necessarily have to be the most comftorable, but make sure your playing sounds good. Range drills. arpeggios. start at the 8th go down to the 5th, 3rd, 1st. then go up a half step and go down same way. keep doin it. scales n stuff. chromatic too.