tookatooka
72 posts
Jan 11, 2009
10:16 AM
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I had a problem a while back which resulted in a lot of work on my teeth. It may (fingers crossed, it won't happen) mean that in the future, have a tooth put on a plate. My question is, do you know any harp players with mouth furniture and does it affect the way they play?
I know that Sonny Terry had virtually no teeth which may have helped his embouchure and Sonny Boy Williams lost a lot of his front teeth but I don't know of anyone that may have had dentures.
It's just that playing the harp calls for mouth gymnastics and I don't know how I'd get on if I had the problem of a plate to contend with as well.
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2009 10:44 AM
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Philosofy
116 posts
Jan 11, 2009
10:26 AM
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I hope you don't need too much work, but, if you do, all I can offer is encouragement. For inspiration on overcoming a musical handicap, look at Django Reinhardt, the gypsy jazz guitarist. He didn't let a handicap slow him down at all.
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SteveL
8 posts
Jan 11, 2009
2:54 PM
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I guess you have the option of taking the plate out while playing - maybe have it sitting in a glass of water on stage - it could be your trademark ;-)
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tookatooka
75 posts
Jan 11, 2009
3:22 PM
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It may not have to come to that yet but I'm just preparing myself in case I do need to have more work done. An implant could be the answer but were talking in terms of about £2000 a throw. UK dentistry is very expensive.
I only play harp for pleasure and the challenge of learning an instrument so it's no real big deal. It's just that I get so much enjoyment from it I wouldn't want my pleasure to be spoiled by something else in my gob - just in case I do get a chance to play in front of people.
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SteveL
11 posts
Jan 11, 2009
3:48 PM
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In all seriousness, I think the answer is to get your dental work done, and see what you can and can't do after that. As for the cost of the dentistry, do they still do those dental holidays to Prague, where you get your dental work done in the morning, and holiday in the afternoon, I thought that worked out cheaper than getting it done in the UK.
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2009 3:52 PM
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SteveL
12 posts
Jan 11, 2009
3:50 PM
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here's the link if you are interested: http://www.dentalholiday.co.uk
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oldwailer
437 posts
Jan 11, 2009
7:58 PM
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Well, Tooka, I have full dentures and I can still play. I kind of think I might have had a better tone back in the old days when I had teeth--but I don't know that for sure, I don't have any recordings of me from back then. I also find it very difficult to Over Blow--but I think that might be hard for lots of players with 18 months of playing.
What I do know is that I have a lot of fun playing--and that is my reason for playing.
The only time I notice a problem with playing with dentures is when the glue gets loose--then they slip around and make it impossible. I just have to make sure they're glued in well before I start--but that isn't a real problem--I have to do the same thing before I can eat.
I might also have a little more problem with cleaning harps--the glue leaves a little residue--so I have to use extra gin to keep them clean. . .
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SilasJackson
23 posts
Jan 11, 2009
11:26 PM
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Hey tookatooka,
Under no circumstances give up. In the beginning, if you were anything like me, you probably had many problems getting the mouth just to act right. In my case, it sounded like I may have been torturing small animals. LOL. If this is the case, then retraining or rethinking methodology might be in order. KEEP WITH IT!!! I have found the enjoyment factor to be more important to my own personal satisfaction, than any monetary reward--not that anybody would be crazy enough to pay to hear me play, (or listen for free for that matter). Remember, my Dog is either singing or filing a complaint. Hard to tell which. But He is forgiving--especially when I quit playing.
My Father passed just 3 years ago from heart disease at the age of 72. His motto was that we may give out--but NEVER give up. Besides, you may just come up with your own "original sound and style". Hang on man, and keep on truckin'
Good luck, and be sure to use those newfangled "Painless Dentistry" methods. I went through some amount of Hell as a kid in the barbaric 1960's. Ol' Doc Johnston just LOVED the drill! I remember he shook worse than me. He WAS old.
Peace and Toothe Grease. LOL.
SJ
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2009 11:33 PM
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tookatooka
76 posts
Jan 12, 2009
3:06 AM
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Thanks for the encouragement guys. I certainly intend to keep going even if it would mean having to take a plate out in order to do it.
SteveL thanks for the link but I have been with my current dentist for the past twenty years and she has been really very good. She's been taking care of the teeth which were ruined back in the fifties when dentists were hired on a piecework basis and they did an awful lot of unnecessary work. They were bought in due to a lack of dentists after the war. The cause of a lot of grief for the baby boomer generation - sadly.
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