yeah, i got braces too. I used nothin = hurt like no other. I used wax = when it gets warm it melts into ur braces and is really hard to get out. I use cigarette paper now. u fold in hotdog stle twice and then hamburger style, get it wet, and then put it over on the top or bottom (wutever hurts more.) I use that and it feels so good when u play.

Cigarette paper? Never heard of that, interesting though. I don`t smoke though.

That`s really interesting. Do you really use the paper off cigarettes? If you put enough wax on your teeth, you should not have a lot of trouble. Sometimes I do have to pick my teeth, but no longer than a minute or two.

I had braces for like 5 months and before i had the braces, I could get notes above the octave easily. But now, i have to struggle just to get to a high e. Everyone says to keep on playing, but it doesnt help...it keeps on cutting my lip. I hav a solo soon so please write back. If you hav any tips on helping this...if you have aol instant messanger, send Richman822

Thanx...Please write back as soon as you can

hey i wrote about 3 months ago. i have played for about 3 months now. my lips have toughened up, only since i didn`t use wax. it`s like starting to play all over again, but you will eventually start improving, and when you do you improve fast.

good luck

i gust got my braces and i cant play my trumpet. im stil trying. my aim is blkdevlcrs3090 pleez write me back soon

love me!

i started playing trumpet around the end of the 7th grade when i was 12. everything was going really well- reading music wasnt that bad because i was playing another instrument before that. but then, at the end of my next year, i got braces. it doesnt hurt that much when im playing, but after i really hurts from digging in. i can hardly get the c on the stave with the on. and before, i could get f and g (the high ones). since ive suddenly gotten so bad im seriuosly considering switching to a reed instrument. if anyone has any advice on what i should do it would really help. thx

I wouldn`t switch instruments. I have friends who play woodwind instruments and they still had to adjust when they got braces. I still use wax, which I think is very effective. I`ve been looking at these guard type things that I saw in one of my band magazines. Go to www.wwbw.com. There`s a place where you can type in the catalog number for the item. The lip protector`s number is 83249. I, myself, am thinking of purchasing this item. I don`t let my lips calis over because you lose elasticity in your lips, which is VERY important! Well, I hope this helps you!

i tried using wax once, but it just made it harder to [play, but i think i might have used a bit much. but ive decided not to switch. it doesnt hurt at all actually. i just need to practice with higher notes, but its getting a lot better. thx anyway though.

I just got braces last week. i play the trumpet. i cant play half as good as i used to. ive been practicing constantly but i havent made the slightest improvement yet. (i have top and bottom braces) Any help?

Best thing to do is though it out a PRACTICE.....

Im a Junior now but when I was in 6th grade I got braces after about a semester of playing, and I didn`t do as well. And in middle school I was about 6th chair but I got them off before my freshman year and I improved dramatically! Now I`m in first chair, man I`m glad I didn`t give up. I never used wax that bothered me. I tried the cigaratte paper but I never could get it to work. Just don`t give up, you`ll be fine. My aim is jkarnes06.

Hi... I started playing trumpet in 5th grade, and from about 6th grade on was never out of first seat for mor than a day or two. In the 7th grade I got braces, and then it didnt cause a HUGE problem, other than somedays I couldnt play because it hurt bad, but those days teh music wasnt tough. Now I`m about to be a junior in high school, and STILL play trumpet with braces. I get them off real soon though. Thing is, it seems like I`ve had to adjust how I play a million times; everytime a big change in my teeth is made. Right now im experiencing a problem even. BUT, it really isnt too bad, and once you all get used to the constant change, and adjust accordingly, you`ll be fine. Shoot, I`ve played this long and stayed good, and am going to have a career in trumpet, and I rock the metal gear... it will be OKAY!

In a previous reply, I spoke about a new product. (The Jet-Tone Lip Protector. All the info. about it is above.) It has really helped me with my braces. It is a cover-like device that you hook on to the wires. There are 2 of these in a package. (one for top teeth, one for bottom teeth.) They are approximately $9. They take a little getting used to but are effective. Before my braces, I was first chair. Now, with the help of wax and the Lip Protector, I am still first chair, one year later. I never built up a callus because I didn`t want to lose the elasticity in my lips. I took that piece of advice from my private instructor. I hope this helps anyone with braces!

Amanda

I just got braces in April, its now June and i still cant play anything high. By high i mean notes above a b flat concert. I was gonna be section leader out of 16 trumpets, but now im fifth chair. I know the chair thing has nothin to do with it, but can anyone help me?