Trumpet audition and "numb lip"

<p>S and I are in Boston right now, hanging out until his NEC audition for Jazz Trumpet on Monday. </p>

<p>He went to practice (the Colonnade Hotel, recommended on the NEC website has been very accommodating about practice space) and came back complaining of numbness in his lips. He has been practicing a lot, between prep for his recital and prep for auditions. </p>

<p>I did a little research on the Internet, but thought I would ask here, also--anyone have any advice or "fixes" for this that may help before Monday?</p>

<p>I have found info for long-term physical therapy and exercises, but it would be good if there was something he could do now...anybody?</p>

<p>D suggests drinking plenty of water, resting, and warming up slowly. She uses vitamin E capsules on burned/chapped lips, but doesn’t sound like that would help in this situation. Have you tried the Trumpet Herald or Trumpet Master forums? Good luck!</p>

<p>Water, water, and more water. I play trombone rather than trumpet, but nothing helps my lips get back to normal more than water and lots of it. In addition, massaging the lips and sort of like making the horse/raspberry noise both help get blood flowing back into the lips. Chap stick/vasoline can sometimes help as well.</p>

<p>D has been told Chapstick is bad for her lips. Something about the ingredients…Chopsaver and I think Burt’s Bees got the nod of approval from that particular teacher. Don’t know if others have heard the same caution. Water surely can’t hurt, though, especially if you’re in a drier environment than you’re accustomed to.</p>

<p>Sorry, I call all the lip things chapstick. I use Burt’s Bees and Chopsaver which my teacher recommended as well.</p>