Hey I'm writing this for my 10 year old Brother who plays the trumpet. He's been playing for about a year now and has moved up quickly in the band, he's already an intermediate! Anyway, he's going to be getting braces soon. I've heard that it's hard to play a brass instrument with braces.I've heard of Brace Guards before and was wondering if any of you have ever used them. Would they be good to get? Any more suggestions would help! Thanks.

just like me, i was first chair and then got my braces and PLOP! i instantly sucked.
Really there is nothing you can do except learn to cope with the new braces, it will takes weeks maybe months to get your good sound again.

i tried the brace guard and it did nothing for me.
what helped however is the wax that the dentist should give you, you put it on over the most severe pressure points, and eventually you will need less and less until you dont need any wax to play at all...you need to ween yourself off of it little by little.
unfortunately for me i lost my wax once and was forced to go 2 weeks without it. that got me off wax th ough..LOL

But it is easier to take them off than to put them on...it took me about 4 months to get my good tone back when i first put them on, and about 1 week to get it back w he n i took them off...

just keep practicing...
good luck

50% of my students are getting braces on or getting braces off. They all adjust within 1 week. Usually less than 4 days. I have posted on this before, let me find the previous post and I wll attach it here with the exercises you need to accomdate braces on or braces off.

<Added>

Here we are - - -
It may help you to know what is going on. With braces on your lips need to stretch out over them. The younger you are the sooner they will stretch over. The muscles and skin are very elastic. The same applays when you get them off except the lips stretch back to the regualr size.

My suggestion::
Each day you should play your horn. Here is a two-part 7 minute exercise that will help. If you can do this once in the morning and once before you go to bed at night that will be best. Start on 'C' just below the treble clef, play chromatically up to the 'C' third space, and then back down to the lower 'C'. Do this again going up to 'C#'and back down to 'C#'. Again up to 'D','D#','E'. Then 'F','F#', etc. When you can't go all the way up chromatically then stop and mark on paper what note you got up to. What this is doing is retraining your orbicularis oris muscle and your depressor oris. This should take about 3 minutes. Don't rush and don't skip.

Part 2 - Start on 'G' (second line on treble clef) It is best to be looking at a clock with a second hand. Play the 'G' for 30 seconds (or as long as you can up to 30 seconds), rest for 15 seconds, and then play 'G#', again 30 seconds, rest 15 go to 'A', A#, etc up to 'G' above the staff. (This should take about 5 minutes)

Important:: (this is controversial but,) after playing the high G. Do not bother to play low notes to cool down or relax. Let you lips stay with the feeling of the high G. It will encourage the lips to retract back.

You should be using only enough pressure to seal the lips - there should be no reason for guard or wax. None of my students use anything. Remember as you go higher to barely angle the trumpet down alittle bit. More pressure on the lower lips the higher you go (not the upper lips).

O.k Thanks!

i agree with krosskountryrunner. ive never tried the brace guard but i assume it wont do anything. i was the best trumpet and then got braces and plop, tied for 3rd worst. the best advice is use wax and learn to live with it. and understand that it is harder to play and that you will have trouble with high and low notes. hope this helps.

I used to play with braces. First chair in both jazz band and regular band. I tried everything but nothing really worked. But what did work for me was tolerance. Literally play the piece of metal without any appliances. All that garbage about putting less pressure won't work as well (braces ARE like a new set of teeth). You need some pressure to create sound. Your embouchure will change too. I would go here, braces or without braces: http://www.trumpetthink.com/embouch.htm

Practice routines should be changed accordingly. When I had braces I kept my usual routine of 1-2 hours of practice. Your son will be able to do it too.

Thanks for the info!

*Note, it's my brother not my son.

Yeah...I noticed that after I posted. Sorry!

LOL! no problem!