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Hey Guys, I have a question. I'm a slightly past middle age pro player that is getting the shakes for the first time and it's got me scared

When I play a note in the lower half of the staff I get a visible shake in my face. My wife says it sounds like vibrato, but I can't shut it off. I've tried practicing more, but the more I play the worse it gets. It honestly has me scared of whole notes in music. I've tried firming my corners more, but that just makes my tone worse.

I am not against going to a doctor about this, but first I wanted to see if anybody has heard of that problem in this register. It's not low or high, just that middle middle that I think we all take for granted

Find an oromandibular dystonia specialist. I wouldn't practice "more" at this point, it'll only get worse.

[quote="Ken Crawford"]an oromandibular dystonia specialist.

WOW!!! That's a mouthful!

This came up on the old trombone forum. While dystopia was suggested, others suggested it might be caused by not having the embouchure set correctly before starting the note. Certainly be checked out by a doctor, but you might also seek out an embouchure specialist to have a look.

JESimmons wrote:This came up on the old trombone forum. While dystopia was suggested, others suggested it might be caused by not having the embouchure set correctly before starting the note. Certainly be checked out by a doctor, but you might also seek out an embouchure specialist to have a look.

Yes. Especially in the middle range where you can get confused between high and low settings.

Definitely see an embouchure specialist. One that is a member here does Skype, if you're interested.

Thanks. Because of professional vanity and reputation, I'm trying to fly under the radar, but who would that be?

Seems like developing some sort of dystonia is not all that uncommon in older highly accomplished players. Many work through the issue just fine though. Treat yourself with kindness and be patient.

I'll be 67 in a few weeks and I've had a twitch in my left cheek for a few years now. It sometimes seems to happen when I play in the middle of the staff. I doesn't always manifest itself, but it can be annoying and usually shows itself when playing slow, classical type music (Bordogni, some orchestral pieces and slow movements of solos). At first I thought it was due to tension and nerves, but it can manifest itself when I'm playing in my house, alone. It never seems to show up when I'm playing Dixieland, jazz or German band music, which I do a lot of these days. So, I don't know what it is. Old age? I don't plan on having any diagnosis either. If it gets to the point where it prohibits me from playing, I'll stop. But the way I'm going now, I can probably continue to play as long as I'm playing jazz and popular music.

I'm middle aged, too.

I get the shakes when I'm not practicing enough (french horn, though). If you're practicing more than an hour a day (at least) and still have the shakes, then it is time to get things checked out.

I had this problem a year ago. Eb below first line G I couldn’t play without shaking. Whole notes in the middle register were my enemy. Fast notes I had no problem. Found the right teacher who got me through this. PM me so that we can do a video chat and I can help you. I won’t charge anything just paying it forward.

Zach

Thanks Zach, I replied to your PM

The other thing that is incredibly frustrating is what's happened to my single tongue. I literally cant tongue 16th notes faster than 76 bpm without my whole face doing gymnastics

I am finding that when I work on my tonguing, my corners start aching, so maybe that's related? My corners have gone weak for some reason and my muscles have crapped out? I play more than an hour a day, but not on fundamentals. I guess I need to start a program of working on building up my corners until they don't ache anymore after just a couple of minutes

Going back to basics and doing all the things we tell beginners to do is always safe advice.

Disagree! There may be medical issues here, and “more fundamentals” may be doing harm. See an expert!

I would talk to a doctor about focal dystonia and find an Alexander Technique specialist who can do a consultation. Alexander technique has been used for about 100 years to deal with repetetive stress injuries and tension reduction in athletics, acting, and music. It was a great help for me in dealing with back pain and tendonitis. Worth a shot

Going slightly off the topic - just wondering if may pro players have insurance? In Australia you can get income protection insurance that covers you for up to 85% of your wage if you are unable to work. Some policies cover you not being able to go back to your nominated occupation (eg pro tuba playing) and others only pay if you can't do any type of work (eg if you can work in a call centre then they won't pay you, even though you are a trained tuba player). The policies available are a varied and complex, but just wondering do you have a similar thing in the US? Tuba playing is a (partially - how much %?) physical job - so as we age and the risk of body failing on us at least that risk is mitigated somewhat. Note I don't sell insurance so am not trying to sell anyone anything.