Trumpet embrochure problem?

I learned to play trumpet with braces and have played 6 years but just got my braces off a few months ago. I have had big problems with high notes and have noticed that when i play, only my bottom lip gets tired. My upper lip never feels sore at all. My embrochure has way too much lower lip. How can i fix my problem?

Trumpet embrochure problem?
I had (and am currently recovering from) the same problem it sounds like you're having.


Have braces is great for learning how to play using less pressure. But your mouthpiece should also be more on your upper lip than your lower, since the upper lip does the vibrating. Look in the mirror and normally put your mouthpiece up to your mouth. Press hard enough to leave a little circle. Inside the circle should be the lighter (or non-lip) part of your skin above your lip. If that's not the case, then you could start working on moving up where you place your mouthpiece.


When putting your mouthpiece up to your mouth, be very conscious of where you're placing it. Have a mirror handy to see if you're placing it high enough or have someone tell you. Note that it doesn't have to be really high, just enough so that even the tiniest bit of white is inside that circle.


Whatever you do, no matter how tempting, don't revert back to the way you played before. Some people believe in gradually changing the placement but I personally felt that getting it over with in one big step was easier. You're probably going to sound terrible the first 2 weeks or so.





It takes a long time (it took me well over a month), and is really frustrating. However, it'll increase your endurance, perhaps improve your tone, and will help with hitting those high notes.


If this isn't your problem then...um...sorry.


It's also possible you're still adjusting to playing without braces.
Reply:if you have braces, when you get them on and when you get them off, your range is going to be shot, and your tone probably will too. It takes getting used. If you've got too much lower lip, hold you embechure in a mirror, and make sure your chin is flat and hard. It'll also help if you buzz drills and songs without the mouthpiece or the trumpet. Finnally, you probably need to get a private lessons teacher until you've got you embechure back under control
Reply:I strongly advise you to go to the warren Vache website warrenvache.com and look for his great 4 hour DVD there and purchase the DVD called I Love The Trumpet there or from Amazon website. The reason I advise is because Warren has some great advice for embouchure development. Warren Vache is one of the greatest trumpet players in the world that seems so few are aware of this great artist. You will benefit from his lesson on holding a pencil in the center of your lips and squeezing for a few minutes. You will see much better on the video how this is done and believe me with your problem with the braces this technique will really help you develop a strong flexible embouchure. Notice that Warren is very much against the smile embouchure as some instructors advise to use. The smile technique will only hurt in the development of a good embouchure.
Reply:Since you learned to play with braces, your lips don't know what it should fell like to play without them. One of the best things to do is to buzz the mouthpiece with as little pressure as possible. Do this in front of a mirror so that you can check the placement. Always try for the best and most clear sound out of just the mouthpiece and spend 10 to 15 minutes buzzing slurs up and down and simple melodies.





Another thing that you could try is building up the space between your lips and teeth. In other words, try to create the same distance as you had with the braces. You could do this with dental wax or with a product like Brace Guard. The dental inserts that you make with the Brace Guard will last longer than wax, but if you are careful, you can reuse the inserts made out of wax for a few weeks. You can keep then in a little container to keep them clean. If you build it up just right, it should feel very similar to when you had the braces on. After a few weeks, try making new inserts that are a little thinner and then play on those for a few weeks. As the weeks go by, make them thinner and thinner until you can play without them.





With careful and dedicated practice, your range will improve.





Good Luck!