Hi there

I`ve noticed recently that when I play, air sometimes escapes from the corners of my mouth. I presume this has something to do with my embouchure...although as I have been playing 7 years I`m surprised myself or my teacher haven`t noticed before now, so I don`t know how long it has been happening or if I have always done it. It seems to be particularly noticable when I practise scales for a long time.
My mouth also seems to get tired easily, which I thought is probably a related problem. Are these things both becuase I don`t have enough strength/tension to produce the correct embouchure? I also wondered if it could be connected to the fact that I wear a brace and I currently have a large gap in my front teeth (they used to overlap) which doesn`t seem to be closing in any hurry!

Please help, I have an important grade exam in a few months and I want to sort out these problems before then! Thanks

I had braces up to and including my grade 8, and while it was difficult, it is not impossible to learn a new embouchure and produce a quality sound. I also noticed air escaping out the side of my mouth, and a softer airier tone. however as time went on it stopped. This airy tone is supposedly desired by orchestras anyway, so it was no big problem.