I've been playing the flute for about 7 years and I've had braces for about...a year and a half (a little less). I feel like w/ my braces, I've gotten worse at the flute and that I'm not making as much progress as I should. I'm really hoping that after I get them off (a few months), I'll be up to the level I should be at, but I'm afraid I won't be able to play!

after I get my braces off, would I improve dramatically? Will I be able to play as well??

I had braces for 14 months as an intermediate player. I adapted quickly to playing with braces, but when they came off, it took a little while for me to get used to it. After I did, I noticed that I had slightly more embouchure flexibility: mainly, it was a little easier to jump intervals.
You will be fine. It's different for everyone, but you'll adapt.

hey

i was in the same boat... i was studying for my amus-a about 4 years ago when i had to make a decision to get braces. although it was a hard decision i chose braces as i was so self consious of my teeth. my embouchure changed completely and i hated my new sound. it was real wispy and i struggled getting the high notes. i ended up giving up with frustration. i got my braces off about 13 months ago and have just recently gotten back into playing and my old sound has returned. i love it again. you have nothing to worry about, you should still be able to play just as well as u did before them. if you keep practicing and soldier on through the braces you may even be better. :-) good luck!

thanks.

well. i try not to rely on my teeth too much, more of my lips so hopefully after the metal is gone, ill be able to play better than before

I was 30 when I got braces. So I had played 18 years without braces. It was tough
in the beginning to play with braces. After 2 years I removed the braces - and
paniced! I couldn't take a clean note...I almost broke apart. But after a week
I began to get the embouchure back. I think my tone definitly has improved of
the more even teeth.

flutexbryan,

At your age you should have no problems. I am mostly a brasswind expert, but I think what I have to say will apply to your situation as well and I will give you an exercise to help you recover.

First understand what your lip muscle(s) are doing as a result of your braces. The lips have more area to cover to get to a playing embouchre. When you have your braces taken off your lips will be larger than they need to be and it will be difficult to play a single note. The reason is the lip muscles have stretched and can't compensate for the brace area that is no longer there. BUT DONT WORRY. Because of your age your lips are elastic. They will come back to normal, my exercise helps you with pulling back the elasticity.

Find some notes you can play and do my braces on/brace off exercise.
The exercise is pick a medium low note and play a chromatic scale up an octave and back down. Move up a half step and play a chromatic scale again, up an octave and back down. Continue to move up in half step increments until you get to a scale that you can't do comfortably. When you get to the "can't do comfortably scale" you are done. Do this exercise twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. Be sure not to do anymore playing after the evening exercise (don't warm down or do low tones - leave your lips alone). This will train the muscle(s)to return to their original position and the skin will follow.

About half of my private students have braces at one time. I use this exercise when they get them on and when they get them off. All have their range and normal tone back within 2 to 4 days.

John

Thanks a lot Jonte and John. Ill let u guys kno how i do after i get my braces off...which hopefully would be in about two months