1/16/2018 Braces: What Every Band Parent Should Know | National Association of Music Parents (AMP)

http://www.amparents.org/braces/ 1/70

Braces: What Every Band Parent Should Know

Today's guest post is by Donna Schwartz, a veteran music educator. Today she answers a common question: "MyChild Has (or is getting) Braces; Can She Still Play Her Band Instrument?"

Oh, the dreaded B word! For a young teen, nothing could be worse than braces, especially if they play a band instru-ment. Having personally experienced them for three years in my youth, and then another two as an adult, my memo-ries are not too fond.

So, is it hopeless if your child is getting braces? Absolutely not! Braces today are SOOOOO much different than 10, 15even 20 years ago. The wires don't seem to cut as much into the sides of the mouth. Palette expanders seem to short-en the time of having braces as well. And now you can be real fashionable and get specially colored braces too!

251

Donate Sign In

Join Now

MyAccount

1/16/2018 Braces: What Every Band Parent Should Know | National Association of Music Parents (AMP)

http://www.amparents.org/braces/ 2/70

Here's the thing though: for a brass player, in particular trumpet, getting braces can wreak havoc on tone quality andendurance. And believe it or not, removal of braces will also affect tone quality and endurance for a while afterwards.

Here's a few considerations for each instrument:

Woodwinds

Flute

1. After an initial adjustment period of a few days to a week, your child should be back to playing normally again.2. Extra condensation may occur, so your child may need to clean out the head-joint more frequently.3. Try to use more breath support instead of lip plate pressure.

Clarinet and Saxes

1. These instruments will have the least issues in terms of adjusting and tone quality.2. The one issue I have seen over the years is the extra condensation that forms and produces a "gurgly" sound.

Students will have to draw out the condensation from the reed much more frequently.3. Saxophone players who tend to bite through their bottom lip will need to use much more breath support to

support their tone quality. (See the section below on Invisalign.)

 

Oboe and Bassoon

1. Students on these instruments will also not experience too many issues adjusting.2. Maintaining a good embouchure with plenty of breath support will help maintain tone quality.3. As with the Clarinets and Saxes, there will most likely be more condensation forming. Students will have to

frequently shake out the reed to get rid of the "gurgly" sound.

 

Brass

Trumpet and French Horn

1. These are the instruments that will be most affected by regular braces. Having played trumpet with braces,and having taught hundreds of students with braces, I can tell you that there is definitely an adjustment peri-od when getting braces on and removing them.

2. If your child uses a lot of mouthpiece pressure to begin with, this transition can be difficult. You can also lookat it as a way to learn how to play with better technique: plenty of air, much more breath support, more use ofthe corner muscles of the mouth and keeping the lips closed (or slightly rolled in) in an "Mmmm" position in-stead of using mouthpiece pressure.

3. Orthodontists will give your child wax, but the braces cut through the wax when you apply pressure to amouthpiece. Then the wax gets caught in the braces.

4. There are other kits available on www.wwandbw.com and other sites where you concoct a thin mouth guardthat will last a month or so and will prevent the pain. (I had one really creative student who enjoyed makingthese.)

1/16/2018 Braces: What Every Band Parent Should Know | National Association of Music Parents (AMP)

http://www.amparents.org/braces/ 3/70

5. There is also an adjustment period after the braces get removed. The teeth feel so smooth because the "an-chor" of the braces no longer exists. The students may apply a lot more mouthpiece pressure to feel that "an-chor" again.

6. I feel that Invisalign for Teens is the answer if it is affordable and feasible for your child. (See below)

 

Trombone, Baritone and Tuba

1. The same issues arise as with the trumpet, but because of the larger mouthpiece, the mouthpiece pressureproblem is not as much of an issue.

2. It is really important that the student uses plenty of air and good breath support. Like the Trumpet andFrench Horn, maintaining an "Mmmm" position and using the corner muscles of the mouth even more-so willdefinitely help.

 

Is there a better solution?

Yes! Invisalign for Teens is new. I have used Invisalign personally as an adult (after my teeth went back to their origi-nal crooked position even with years of retainers) and it has truly helped my trumpet and saxophone performance.

Here's the lowdown:

1. The Invisalign retainers are clear plastic pieces that fit snugly on your teeth. Each set is usually worn for twoweeks to a month at a time, and then a new set is worn. After placing in a new set, it will feel uncomfortablefor a few hours, but that goes away with consistent usage.

2. They fit like a glove and feel smooth over the teeth. At times, you almost can't tell they are there.3. It is crucial that your child brushes and flosses consistently. This will mean bringing a toothbrush, toothpaste

and floss to school and being sure to use them after lunch or snacks. This may seem nerdy, but putting theretainers on after eating or drinking sugary drinks will cause cavities.

4. It is also crucial that your child brings the container to place the Invisalign retainers in while eating. You don'twant to lose them!

5. Invisalign can be more expensive than regular braces, and may not be covered (or covered as much) byinsurance.

Here's the link to information on Invisalign for Teens, along with some helpful videos.

If your child has, or is getting braces, there are many better options than in the past.

If you can afford Invisalign for Teens, that, I feel, is the best option. If not, this can be seen as an opportunity to workon playing technique and breath support.

Whatever you do, don't get braces (or remove them) before a major concert or performance! Your child will be ner-vous enough; the extra adjusting and uncertainty can cause many performance problems and loss of self-esteem.You can tell your orthodontist to wait; a few weeks will not matter in the scheme of things.

I hope this article has helped you. Do you have any experiences with braces or Invisalign that you would like to share?Are there other aids you have found that you can share with us? I do welcome your comments below.

1/16/2018 Braces: What Every Band Parent Should Know | National Association of Music Parents (AMP)

http://www.amparents.org/braces/ 4/70

Donna Schwartz has been teaching Band and Jazz Band inpublic elementary and middle schools in New York for over 13years, and has been teaching brass and saxophone studentsprivately for over 26 years. She has a website at http://don-naschwartzmusic.com, where she offers weekly blogs onteaching music, and videos for solutions to common perfor-mance problems.

13 thoughts on “Braces: What Every Band ParentShould Know”

251

RebeccaSchmorr

Great tips! I am a dentist in Raleigh providing braces as well as Invisalign and Ihadn’t thought about the impact braces have on playing an instrument. I willhave to ask one of my younger patients if they play any instruments and howthey have fared with the adjustment!

November 12, 2013 at 3:39 pm

November 30, 2013 at 3:40 pm