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I have been playing some low sustained stuff from the Wesley Jacobs "Low Register Studies". About 50% of the time, I develop a little twitch in my right eyelid as I practice these things. The twitch (technically, a blepharospasm) lasts as long as I continue in the low register, and goes away within 5 minutes after I quit.

It's not terribly bothersome--just a little annoying. Has anybody else experienced this or anything similar?

I had the same problem several years ago. My doctor told me that it's caused by fatigue, and that it would probably go away if I made an effort to get more sleep.

- Jamie

you KNOW you're playing low when your whole face starts to vibrate. i have often times had odd experiences too playing in the low register. i am not certain whether it is my eyes twitching or my whole head vibrating but things will become slightly blurred while i'm playing, and stop when i take a breath or what have you. i would agree that just stress would be some sort of factor in your circumstance. with the large vibrations we folk must produce, when the slightest thing changes in our body, it can effect us greatly. hope you get that resolved. happy tuba-ing.

The problem is aggravated through cold seasons, especially if you wear glasses.

My trick has been to give my nose, my cheeks, and my jaw a good rub to regenerate some circulation of the body fluids in these areas.

But you shouldn't despair too much!

Anyone playing the tuba without a twinkle in his/hers eye definitely has sold his soul to the Devil (who by the way has his own island on this forum).

Klaus

Hey,
I had this problem and looked it up online. It can be caused by lack of sleep, stress or caffeine. Since then I have been getting more than 4 hours sleep, I started meditating every day again and began drinking decaf and it has stopped.
FWIW
Bill Pritchard

Doc wrote:Turn on the TV when doing low range studies and watch the sceen. Talk about your vibrations...

Doc

I made a fool out of myself, I discovered that and since it didnt' happen on 'all notes' I called my friends and family in and was like "Watch this!" they proceeded to see nothing.. since they werent' the ones playng... man i felt like a moron i thought i had found a pitch that interfered with the tv

Tubadork wrote:Since then I.... began drinking decaf and it has stopped.

No, Bill. Say it isn't so! Decaf?!? What, the Korean double shots of expresso too strong for you? That stuff used to clean my clock and any number of geologists could have measured seismic waves from the shakes I got after a cold morning job in Seoul. Hope you're doing well.

Chris