Pliers are the one of the worst tools to bring into contact with your instrument. They can scratch and bend your mouthpiece, and using them might even start to break apart your instrument at the mouthpipe. Most band directors are equipped with repair supplies to help fix minor instrument problems.  They will likely have a mouthpiece puller that can be used. Your band director can also inspect your mouthpiece to make sure its shape is correct. Someone who has been playing brass instruments for a long time will likely have more experience with removing stuck mouthpieces. Ask them for assistance in implementing the best techniques for removing your mouthpiece if it gets stuck. Most music repair shops will use a mouthpiece puller or other mechanism to remove a mouthpiece. Often they will not charge for this service, since it’s a simple procedure and can be completed quickly. Call before you go to make sure they can pull out your mouthpiece for you. Ask the repair shop to clean your instrument and inspect your mouthpiece to ensure that its shape is correct.
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One-sentence summary -- Never use pliers or other tools on your instrument. Ask your band director for help. Ask an experienced brass instrument player for help. Take your instrument to a repair shop.


It takes only about 30 seconds for a thought in your mind to enter your deep consciousness. As a result, thinking that you can simply just push it out of your mind won’t work. In fact, It takes a lot more mental energy and effort to fight against a negative thought. Acknowledging negative thinking doesn’t mean dwelling on it. Instead, you allow your mind to briefly accept that the thought has entered your mind, and then intentionally releasing the thought from your mind. Use visual imagery to allow your negative thoughts to be released.  For example, you might want to imagine placing your negative thought on a leaf and then watching it float down the stream. Sometimes you have valid reasons to be concerned or worried about something, especially when feeling like you have no control over the situation. Therefore, it’s okay to recognize that there is reason for concern. Just don’t allow them to fester in your mind. Freeing up your mind from negative thoughts makes space for other, more positive thoughts. With practice and time, you’ll notice that you’ll have a tendency to engage in more positive thinking. If you begin to believe that your negative thoughts are valid, then they become your reality. Instead, ask yourself these three questions when negative thoughts take over: Are these thoughts reasonable?  Are they rational?  Are they reliable? If you can identify that a negative thought is unreasonable, then it allows you to put things into perspective. If you conclude that your thinking is irrational, then you can cease engaging in irrational behavior. Finally, if your negative thought is unreliable, then you can recognize that it is unlikely to be true. Figure out which personal experiences you’ve had that are behind your negative thoughts to gain perspective on your thinking and reasoning.  You can then ask yourself what about that experience has lead to your negative perception. This sounds both counterproductive and extreme, but it works.  Why? It allows you to see things in a more realistic perspective. For example, someone who is afraid of flying might be fearful of being in a plane crash. They might imagine themselves being the sole survivor of the crash, stranded on a deserted island and being eaten alive by a pack of wolves. Imagining their greatest fear can help them realize the absurdity of their fear.
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One-sentence summary --
Acknowledge your negative thoughts. Release your negative thoughts. Have concerns without dwelling on them. Don’t buy into the negative thinking. Determine the source of your negative thinking. Think of the worst possible outcome that could happen.