anyone else have neck/upper back pain from playing?

[MaryAnn]

1. If it's a tension issue and not a position issue, a couple sessions with an Alexander Technique teacher can open your eyes to a lot.

2. For position....what I plan to do is get a picture of me sitting comfortably buzzing just on the mouthpiece, holding it in my hand. That would be the angle I want. Then compare to a picture of the tuba just touching my face without my trying to buzz into the mouthpiece, and that should give info for both height and angle. I'm always amazed at the angles I use to play in instruments that are fixed in space, as opposed to the angle I use if I'm just holding the piece in my hand. I find those bad angles also affect my usable range.

[UDELBR]

But it seems a bit strange that only my right side is affected. I'd think that if this were the entire problem that both sides of the neck might get sore.

Tuba isn't played symmetrically. As others have pointed out, almost all horns have to be balanced L-R, causing tension & back and neck strain. Plus, no-one places their mouthpiece directly in the middle of their chops. This could also be a cause of unilateral discomfort (strain on one side only).

[swillafew]

The William J. Bell Complete Tuba Method has this to say about the position of the instrument: (page 20)

The tuba should rest on and between the legs of the player in as upright a position as possible, and it should be balanced as perfectly as possible. Do not wrestle with it.

end quote.

[MikeW]

Tubas are built to fit Mr average.
You are 5 inches taller than Mr average.
Ergo your mouthpiece is likely to be 5 inches too low for you.

Or am I over simplifying ?

I would be inclined to try placing a firm cushion between my thighs, and sitting the tuba on top of it, thus raising the mouthpiece to somewhere near the right height.

[Rick Denney]

Yes, you are oversimplifying. Legs are longer than they used to be; torsos less so. But the height issue is completely solvable using a stand, and the OP has already tried that.

We never heard an answer on how the good doctor carries his tuba. I often carry mine over my right shoulder, using just one of the backpack straps. Foolish, but it's easier, especially when wearing a heavy coat. To balance the instrument, I have to twist my body into a "C" shape. And that right trap is indeed having to keep that strap positioned, which requires a high-effort shrug movement. That is in addition to having to carry the weight of the strap directly on the muscle, cross-fiber. I have not had symptoms as of yet.

A chiropractor won't help with this, if it really is muscle pain. Their whole strategy is to relieve compression between vertebrae, so if it's not a pinched nerve, they have no tool in their toolbox. Their "manipulations" do, however, mimic those of a good physical therapist, and that's where I would seek professional help. In my experience, doctors do not understand muscle or age-related joint pain at all (with due respect to the OP, who, it must be said, demonstrates this point), and the last time I complained of such to my doctor, he wanted to give me a muscle relaxant, or a cortisone injection, or some such. I did not want or need merely palliative care, and I suspect the OP is the same. Get the doctor to prescribe physical therapy and recommend the best PT in the area.

Lots of good advice in this thread about positioning; no need to add anything else to that.

Rick "men of means used to get regular massages, before those became something...different" Denney

[DaveWright]

Are you having to adjust your head to seal your mouthpiece? If you have to drop your head to make contact with your mouthpiece, try placing a pad or strap a piece of hard foam to the bottom bow to get the tuba parallel with your mouth. My chiropractor messages by muscles and works on my nerves and it helps me. Good luck, Dave Wright

[whatsupdoc]

As always, thanks for the good thoughts and suggestions.

I do plan on speaking with my doctor about some PT. I also have been asking around about some good massage people (the ones with incense and Kenny G or Paul Winter in the background aren't what I'm looking for... )

I have been paying more attention to my address of the horn/mouthpiece. I think I'm adjusting my angle to make the contact and this may be part of the problem. However, when I hold my head nice and straight, looking directly forward, the mouthpiece angle feels as though I'm looking upward. And at my height that would put the music stand about 4-5 feet up in the air....

I do use a gig bag, but ALWAYS both back pack straps. This is both for comfort and security of the instrument. The bag is in good shape, but I still don't trust just one strap. Also with the snow and ice here in the northern latitudes (Maine), I want to be as balanced as possible.

Again, thanks for the thoughts. I hope the discussion helps others, too.

[sloan]

Re music glasses: several Tubenetters have praised music glasses that are made using "Executive Lens" bi-focals.

I used to be a strong proponent of "Executive" lenses.

I have switched to single-vision lenses optimized for 1 meter.

Who needs to see the conductor?

[iiipopes]

The only time I ever had any pain was in two circumstances:
1) When I tried to carry a souzy that I was not in shape for. Solution: got in shape.
2) When I had the recording bell on my Miraphone 186. No matter what I did (adjust posture, adjust height either on my lap, with or without a stand, or changing chairs, adjust orientation of the body of the tuba, etc.) it was just too, too, much (sorry for the pun - the bell rim diameter was 22 inches) bell front heavy, and pulled on my shoulders. Solution: sold the recording bell stack and had my tech install my favorite configuration Besson 17" upright bell. Now it balances. It is not as tall as the traditional "stovepipe" version of a 186, so it is not top heavy. The main tuning slide has been extended a couple of inches on each leg to compensate. It is now very balanced, and the only fatigue when playing is where it is supposed to be: the intercostal muscles for breathing, and the corners of the embouchure.

[sloan]

Who needs to see the conductor?

Can we be absolutely certain that you are NOT a full-time professional tuba player ?

Your comment (quoted above) hints otherwise.

Well, I'm pretty certain...