cut in my lip from playing trombone?

Question:I think it's caused by either practising too much or pressing the mouthpiece against my lips too hard. The more intense I practice, the worse it gets. Any suggestions to improve the situation? I think this applies to other brass instruments as well, but am not sure.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I think it's caused by either practising too much or pressing the mouthpiece against my lips too hard. The more intense I practice, the worse it gets. Any suggestions to improve the situation? I think this applies to other brass instruments as well, but am not sure.

You are right, this is either happening from practicing too much or from pressing too hard. When you press too hard, you actually restrict the ability your lips have to vibrate and this will effect your over all tone and range as well as create the improper embouchure. I would suggest that you let your lip heal first. It will only keep splitting if you don't. Get some Carmex and use it on your lip until it heals up. Then begin your practice again being careful to make the sound into your mouthpiece by your lips buzzing without mashing it on your mouth. You can also keep your lips in shape to play your horn while they are healing by acting like you have the mouthpiece or actually using just the mouthpiece and going up and down the scales by buzzing your lips into it like you are playing. It won't be successful at first, but I can guarantee you that if you get to where you can do that, you will have mastered the art of playing your horn correctly. I have played for many years professionally and it was taught to me when I was in middle school and I am 48 years old now. Trust me, it will be good for you and it will save your lips. I don't know if you are playing too much or just using too much pressure to you lips, but my bet is on that you are pressing too hard. You need to correct this if you want to play well or with any length of endurance. Best of luck to you and hang in there!

Let it heal before you do anything. That means lay off practicing for a while. Don't want it to get infected!

Lots of chapstick? I dunno. Could there be a rough spot on the mouthpiece? I was a woodwind, so I wouldn't know.

Ice is about the only thing I know of......why don't you ask a teach of that instrument to look at your playing....maybe he/she can tell you what your doing wrong.....maybe it is the fact that you practice too much....I play and teach classical and acoustic guitar and I know that I've had a lot of problems with my hands and fingers from too much practice, I use to practice eight hours a day, and quite often had to see hand Dr's. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto to froggsfriend, but I would add that you need to start private lessons with a teacher who specifically has trombone expertise - preferably one who is actively performing. You may have an embrochure problem we don't know about here. There are different teeth / jaw configurations (overbites, crooked teeth, etc.) that, along with incorrect angle, vertical placement and pressure on the mouthpiece can play a huge role in your comfort, health, and tone.

I would also warn against things like Chloraseptic and Orajel, which contain Benzocaine or other "caine" anasthetics to get you over the hump. By numbing the pain, you could be causing damage you can't even feel.

I agree with the other posters about possible embouchure problems and over-practice. Lay off for a while - until you can play without it hurting. In the immediate future, use ice packs and ibuprofin (advil) to reduce the swelling.

I would think getting Carmex in a cut might hurt - I'd use something neutral like vaseline.

This happens to me alot. I play professional tuba and my lips always get cut. Go out and buy vitamin E capsules. Before you go to bed, poke a hole in the capsule and rub the insides on your lips. By morning it should be almost healed. Do it for a few nights in a row.