How to get rid of dry marks around my lips?

My lips get swollen from playing the trumpet?

• I've been playing the trumpet for about 3 1/2 years now, and every time I finish playing I get an imprint of the mouthpiece on my lips and sometimes my lips are swollen. I thought that was from pressure, so I recently stopped doing it, and now without any pressure barely, the marks are coming in twice as deep. How can I correct this problem? HELP!!!!!!!!! I'm first chair trumpet and if I ask my band teacher he'll put me in like 5th chair so I won't!!!!! Do some people's lips just naturarlly get the marks from the mouthpiece whether they have pressure or not?

• Answer:

  The rim of your mouthpiece... most likely a Bach... is what is causing the swelling. Bach mouthpieces are built with the high point of the rim very close to the inner diameter, and they have a soft bite. In essence, the high point of the rim pins your lips down, and forces you to manipulate your lips in order to play well. Many players switch to larger diameter Bach mouthpieces in order to solve this problem. The larger diameter mouthpiece allows easier manipulation, but doesn't really solve the problem. If you have thin lips, try a Yamaha or Schilke #4 rim mouthpiece... maybe a 9, 11, or 12 diameter. The Schilke 12B4 is a good model, as is the 9C4. Yamaha 8C4, 9C4, 11C4, 11B4. Marcinkiewicz is another brand of good quality and value. Look at the Med. Flat models... E15, E17, E18. If your lips are thicker, consider one of the Marcinkiewicz "Bobby Shew" models. E5, E8.4, E9.1. Best of luck to you!