Braces...how will it affect my singing?

[jlewmdob]

Hello all...I'm having braces put on in the next few months and wanted to post and see if anybody here has any experience singing with them on and how it may affect technique or tone. Initially I have to wear a "Quad Helix" which is going to create some more space, which I'm hoping will create room for more resonance. I'll have to wear that for about 4 months. After that is when I'll have the actual braces put on. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Steven Fraser]

Hello all...I'm having braces put on in the next few months and wanted to post and see if anybody here has any experience singing with them on and how it may affect technique or tone. Initially I have to wear a "Quad Helix" which is going to create some more space, which I'm hoping will create room for more resonance. I'll have to wear that for about 4 months. After that is when I'll have the actual braces put on. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

jlwemdob: I sang with braces for 3 years in high school. Just be sure to put a little lip balm on the inside of your lips before you sing, and should be no problem. For some types of braces, not even this small adjustment will be needed. Both my kids sang throughout their HS years with some braces, and had no problems.

As to 'creating more space' for resonance, the Quad Helix's acoustic effect will be to slightly lower the 2nd vowel resonance, changing the color of all of the vowels toward a darker pronunciation. If you continue singing during the time the quad is in, you will make adjustments in pronunciation gradually, so others are not likely to notice the differences.

[anonimuzz]

When I started learning how to sing, I had braces, and at most, it affected my diction, but very slightly. Don't worry =)