I got braces put on today. The toothy, orthodontic kind... aaand there goes a year's worth of work on getting a decent wooden flute embouchure going!
Haven't touched the flute yet 'cos I'm back at work, but it's going to be very strange, I'm quite sure of that.
And no, I'm not 14 anymore. I had braces when I was a teenager, but my toofs have drifted back into odd positions in the intervening millennia and one day I thought, hey, medical aid covers this so why not, eh? Plus I was bored that day.
I'll say this though, orthodontics have come a long way in the past 10 years - the steel-girder 'railway tracks' of yore are now transparent plastic, almost invisible.
Never a dull moment, eh?
Any other fluters suffered through braces after they discovered trad?
i did have a gap between my front teeth, and after that was arranged, playing became better!
not in the least, i guess, because by then i was more aware of how to get a good embouchure.
and because of the work i put into accomodating to this 'new' situation.
good luck to you, Q, and let's hear how't goes ...
mm
I prefer the slight misalignment in my teeth, coupled with the glint of gold from a few crowned molars when I laugh, to lend me a romantically roguish appearance suggestive of being enjoyable company, a reliable friend, yet someone who might be dangerous to cross, having a winning way with women, without being considered predatory by their spouses, financially secure without ostentation, contented but not lacking in ambition, educated but not pompous, clean and tidy without being fastidious, healthy but not vegetarian, prepared to take a stand for justice and truth without being harsh on other peoples misdemeanours, kind to children and animals, good at gardening with a knowledgeable respect for the natural world, widely read and able to appreciate the finer points of poetry and with a good sense of humour and a healthy appetite.
i paly the flute as well, and i have braces as well, and moreover i sustained an operation a month ago, which completely changed my face and therefore my flute embouchure. And of course, when i took my flute just after, the sound was awful, but as MM said, "i was more aware of how to get a good embouchre".
now, i've found back the sound i had before, i can play the flute normally...so don't worry, braces won't keep you away from playing the flute, you just have to get used to it, even if it's quite hard at the beginning.
I try to be modest. After all, I have so much to be modest about.
Back on topic - I have found dental work has affected my playing of whistles and flutes in the past - but you soon get used to it Q. I dislocated all the joints in my left hand pinky finger a year or so ago, and it was weeks before I could get top B on the mandolin without an involuntary vocal accompaniment, but like all these things you can either come up with a work round or just give up.
My orthodontist told me that if I really cared about the positioning and health of my teeth, I needed to give up the viola, because in his experience, violists and violinists tend to improperly clench their jaws, leading to much problems with positioning of teeth and TMJ.
I didn't drop the viola, but I tried to learn to hold the thing more properly to minimize the problems.
Recently, though, I've been chasing this little bunching of tension all over my body while playing. As soon as I isolate and relax it in one place, it pops up in another place.
we met earlier at the lunasa board and Chiff...
been a while...
have to catch up I believe...
take care and keep on playing...
(or learn to play the king of piper? )
lievegreetings
I can vaguely remember my teenage years. I believe the issue then was having braces and kissing a girlfriend with braces and somehow not get stuck in "kisslock." Are we talking about possible "flutelock"?
Fortunately I don't have to make that choice. I've just picked up the stick and whipped through a buncha tunes... embouchure is easier and smoother than before, if anything. Who woulda thunk?
I wonder what the nose job and jawline alteration will do, though...
Darn, Q, I was hoping you would have to knock off the flute for a while and concentrate on the comic strip. Oh, not really; but I'm waiting patiently for the next installment.
hé crocodileman...found u, lost u, found u, lost u...
but back again... (been months... a lot!!!)
been hiding myself a lot... I think... to much to do, complicated live...
braces hé... waw... a make-over )))
let me know what tunes u can play know...
want to learn them
off to a session now, see if u find me know????
try anyway Q!!!
Had a manicure today, not sure if it will affect my fiddle playing. Anyone else experienced this problem?
Sorry Q, but at least you'll be happier with the way you look. How about posting a before and after pciture on your orthodontological experience. (big toothy grin)
Cath - I find I have to keep the nails short on my left hand for fiddle playing - otherwise I catch the strings - so I keep the right hands ones short so they match. I remember a guitar player with the silliest looking hands because the nails were different lengths for playing!!
Cath - I have that problem all the time with manicures. But then I do cut my nails to the quick before each session ... and keep nail clippers in my case. But it's not phobic behaviour, oh no. And as for the other stuff in my case ... I can feel a new thread coming on, though I'm sure Zina will say she's getting deja vu all over again.
Brace yourself...
Brace yourself...
I got braces put on today. The toothy, orthodontic kind... aaand there goes a year's worth of work on getting a decent wooden flute embouchure going!
Haven't touched the flute yet 'cos I'm back at work, but it's going to be very strange, I'm quite sure of that.
And no, I'm not 14 anymore. I had braces when I was a teenager, but my toofs have drifted back into odd positions in the intervening millennia and one day I thought, hey, medical aid covers this so why not, eh? Plus I was bored that day.
I'll say this though, orthodontics have come a long way in the past 10 years - the steel-girder 'railway tracks' of yore are now transparent plastic, almost invisible.
Never a dull moment, eh?
Any other fluters suffered through braces after they discovered trad?
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
i did have a gap between my front teeth, and after that was arranged, playing became better!
not in the least, i guess, because by then i was more aware of how to get a good embouchure.
and because of the work i put into accomodating to this 'new' situation.
good luck to you, Q, and let's hear how't goes ...
mm
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by MM
Re: Brace yourself...
Never had braces myself.
I prefer the slight misalignment in my teeth, coupled with the glint of gold from a few crowned molars when I laugh, to lend me a romantically roguish appearance suggestive of being enjoyable company, a reliable friend, yet someone who might be dangerous to cross, having a winning way with women, without being considered predatory by their spouses, financially secure without ostentation, contented but not lacking in ambition, educated but not pompous, clean and tidy without being fastidious, healthy but not vegetarian, prepared to take a stand for justice and truth without being harsh on other peoples misdemeanours, kind to children and animals, good at gardening with a knowledgeable respect for the natural world, widely read and able to appreciate the finer points of poetry and with a good sense of humour and a healthy appetite.
Am I expecting too much?
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Brace yourself...
Don't worry Q at least now you'll have a bracing smile.
Sorry
PP
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Pied Piper
Re: Brace yourself...
Showaddydadito - I'm sure you're all that and so much more besides!!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: Brace yourself...
showadd ...
"... romantically roguish appearance of beeing ... (ad infinitum)"
but that's just misleading, or is it not?
mm
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by MM
Re: Brace yourself...
Sounds great Showaddy!
Hmmm... I wonder if my Ortho could work out a similar configuration while he's at it? Send me some dental scans!
%7)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
i paly the flute as well, and i have braces as well, and moreover i sustained an operation a month ago, which completely changed my face and therefore my flute embouchure. And of course, when i took my flute just after, the sound was awful, but as MM said, "i was more aware of how to get a good embouchre".
now, i've found back the sound i had before, i can play the flute normally...so don't worry, braces won't keep you away from playing the flute, you just have to get used to it, even if it's quite hard at the beginning.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by lucie
Re: Brace yourself...
I try to be modest. After all, I have so much to be modest about.
Back on topic - I have found dental work has affected my playing of whistles and flutes in the past - but you soon get used to it Q. I dislocated all the joints in my left hand pinky finger a year or so ago, and it was weeks before I could get top B on the mandolin without an involuntary vocal accompaniment, but like all these things you can either come up with a work round or just give up.
Q - be careful playing the jaws harp.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Brace yourself...
My orthodontist told me that if I really cared about the positioning and health of my teeth, I needed to give up the viola, because in his experience, violists and violinists tend to improperly clench their jaws, leading to much problems with positioning of teeth and TMJ.
I didn't drop the viola, but I tried to learn to hold the thing more properly to minimize the problems.
Recently, though, I've been chasing this little bunching of tension all over my body while playing. As soon as I isolate and relax it in one place, it pops up in another place.
I'm thinking of trying drugs. ;)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Brace yourself...
hé Q
)
we met earlier at the lunasa board and Chiff...
been a while...
have to catch up I believe...
take care and keep on playing...
(or learn to play the king of piper?
lievegreetings
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by lieve
Re: Brace yourself...
showaddy - there's a personal ad I'd answer any day.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by kris
Re: Brace yourself...
did I say something stupid here!?
I meant the king of pipes: the u-pipes... yeah!!!
*L*
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by lieve
Re: Brace yourself...
Lieve! You found me! Okay, now it's your turn to hide. I'll close my eyes.
One crocodile, two crocodile, three crocodile...
%7)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
Zina - its a straight choice, do you want straight teeth more than you want to play.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Brace yourself...
I can vaguely remember my teenage years. I believe the issue then was having braces and kissing a girlfriend with braces and somehow not get stuck in "kisslock." Are we talking about possible "flutelock"?
Have you tried U-pipes? Do you have tennis elbow?
Sorry for not being more helpful. Best Wishes!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Brace yourself...
Fortunately I don't have to make that choice. I've just picked up the stick and whipped through a buncha tunes... embouchure is easier and smoother than before, if anything. Who woulda thunk?
I wonder what the nose job and jawline alteration will do, though...
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
Darn, Q, I was hoping you would have to knock off the flute for a while and concentrate on the comic strip. Oh, not really; but I'm waiting patiently for the next installment.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Michele Sims
Re: Brace yourself...
Shhhh! Don't mention the cartoons. They're a secret!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
This would be one of those secrets that everyone knows about, then?
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Brace yourself...
I only told, like, 5 people. I swear.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
Oops. I'll never mention the cartoons again.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Michele Sims
Re: Brace yourself...
Until it makes him either fame or fortune or both, okay? ;)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Brace yourself...
Best not to. And don't tell anyone I've linked to them from my profile either!
%7)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
*smirk* Uh huh. I won't. I promise.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Brace yourself...
hé crocodileman...found u, lost u, found u, lost u...
)))
but back again... (been months... a lot!!!)
been hiding myself a lot... I think... to much to do, complicated live...
braces hé... waw... a make-over
let me know what tunes u can play know...
want to learn them
off to a session now, see if u find me know????
try anyway Q!!!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by lieve
Re: Brace yourself...
One potato
Two potato
Three potato
Four
Five potato
Six potato
Seven potato
More
Oh, and don't get too close to the Microwave.
PP
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Pied Piper
Re: Brace yourself...
Had a manicure today, not sure if it will affect my fiddle playing. Anyone else experienced this problem?
(big toothy grin)
Sorry Q, but at least you'll be happier with the way you look. How about posting a before and after pciture on your orthodontological experience.
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by Cath
Re: Brace yourself...
Cath - I find I have to keep the nails short on my left hand for fiddle playing - otherwise I catch the strings - so I keep the right hands ones short so they match. I remember a guitar player with the silliest looking hands because the nails were different lengths for playing!!
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: Brace yourself...
Hahaha. No.
%7P
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by Q
Re: Brace yourself...
Q - your secret's safe here - crackin' stuff
Cath - I have that problem all the time with manicures. But then I do cut my nails to the quick before each session ... and keep nail clippers in my case. But it's not phobic behaviour, oh no. And as for the other stuff in my case ... I can feel a new thread coming on, though I'm sure Zina will say she's getting deja vu all over again.
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by Just a person
Re: Brace yourself...
What?! What?! When have I ever said that! I've never said that!
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by Zina Lee