Viviandium
New Member
I got my braces on a while back, but I haven't been playing the same since. I'm last chair. I can hardly play a high F, and I can't get any higher than a high G or F#, notes that used to be easy for me. Still, I crack notes that are supposed to be easy, like our tuning C or even low notes on the staff during lip slurs or Clarke studies. What's even worse is that sometimes I sustain those cracking notes, and sometimes I just drop out of the exercise all together. I suck so much that it's discouraging me from practicing in front of people or turning in recordings...
I'd get private lessons, but I'm still a minor and I have to get my parents permission. They don't care about band nearly as much as I do, and they've deemed that private lessons aren't necessary. I hate practicing in practice rooms because you can hear through the walls, and like I said, I hate it when people can hear me play. All my fellow horn players really tell me is to blow more air or even to just wait until my braces are off, but neither of those tips help, and I really want to play in the band without the fear of playing something horribly, especially since football season here.
Using more air is definitely important, but do any of you guys have tips on how to play with braces?
I'd get private lessons, but I'm still a minor and I have to get my parents permission. They don't care about band nearly as much as I do, and they've deemed that private lessons aren't necessary. I hate practicing in practice rooms because you can hear through the walls, and like I said, I hate it when people can hear me play. All my fellow horn players really tell me is to blow more air or even to just wait until my braces are off, but neither of those tips help, and I really want to play in the band without the fear of playing something horribly, especially since football season here.
Using more air is definitely important, but do any of you guys have tips on how to play with braces?