May the 4th Be With You: More Recordings of Excerpts on Horn (Living with Embouchure Dystonia)

 

Brass Quintet: Nightmare Before Christmas

 

Accepted into the AAAE

 

Dion Tucker: On Focal Dystonia

 

New Juicer!

 

Mt. Rainer and Photography

 

Reminders: My Health Journey

 

Weston Sprott, trombonist with The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Dean of the Preparatory Division at The Juilliard School on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Orchestras

 Bravo!!

Well said!!! We have so much in common when it comes to speaking out about the underrepresented in our field (just different topics/areas of inclusion), and the desire to create change and a better future for classical music and generations to come. Would love to hear more of his thoughts! Important work, and Weston Sprott's words need to be heard!!

TwoSet on Mental Health (Bravo for speaking out!!!!)

Wow! I really encourage any musicians and students to watch this! Brett and Eddy cover a number of topics over psychological pressures and its affects on students/musicians.

I’m so so soooo proud! SO PROUD of Twoset Violin for speaking out about their own experiences. I was especially surprised to hear about how Eddy ended up in a wheelchair. But what I love is that he spoke about how helpful his neurologist was, and the use of mirror box to retrain the brain signals.

This is a vital area to point out within the brain-body connection, and how both extrinsic and intrinsic factors can throw a wrench into the way the body responds and the brain adapts to change (in a maladaptive way, but ideally out of the need to protect...it just backfires)...a chain-reaction...almost like phantom limb manifestation.

There’s that point of transition where the brain starts associating playing with pain, or manifests an illness in the body, or a disorder. It doesn’t even have to be pain induced through playing....can be an external cause (ex. a car accident that causes a fracture in the arm or hand, or facial trauma and the pain still resides even after fully healing). Both injuries and mental health disorders come with a slew of extrinsic and intrinsic dynamics at play because the brain rewires when it starts receiving changes in the signal; whether physical or mental or via sensation, literally any type of change.

But it’s not just a headspace thing or all in your head, it really is a neurological rewiring that is happening via sensation and other stressors and factors. And it’s hard to catch when it’s setting in like that because we’ve been taught to endure, or that it’s just a day or week of intense playing and it will pass. Our brain holds onto it even after recovered, and there’s some research surrounding how the body suppresses memories and pain. It’s great that he points out it’s not helpful to label any physical or mental illness as “all in your head.”

I also can’t say enough about how happy I am they addressed the need for education and being more open about the mental pressures and physical challenges within the profession.

It’s really humbling and moving to hear them speak out, and I don’t think they’ll ever know how much this means to me, and to others who care as deeply about musician health and well-being.

Although it’s always scary to speak out; the fact that there’s so much fear surrounding talking openly about issues and challenges within our profession (especially controversial topics) means there needs to be a change!

With the rising demands, and how much we put into our profession, and for how little appreciation and respect the arts receive publicly and with funding, we need to start taking care of each other and considering how we can make positive strides from the inside-out. I think once we remember what we stand for unified, perhaps we can overcome the tendency to uphold certain practices that no longer serve our highest good or welfare of the profession and future generations.

TwoSet Violin: Dark Side of Profession (Bravo for speaking out!)

 🙌 Bravo Twoset Violin!!! 👏👏👏👏 I'm so proud of you for speaking out about this. It takes a lot of courage, but definitely important for our profession to start being more transparent about where corruption, maltreatment, and misconduct takes place, and in what ways (big or small).

If the classical music profession values cultural integrity so much, then why are we allowing certain people in power to overstep boundaries, divide us through exclusivity (rather than unify through inclusivity), and abuse or test their power through manipulation and influence? Our profession was meant to bring people together, to impact the public through our expression, and instill the value and necessity of the arts within culture, education, and society. If we are such an important backbone to society and want to preserve our art, then why do we create more ill-intent and alienation among ourselves? ......whether that's political corruption in our profession, misconduct, maltreatment, discriminating by gender, age, nationality/diversity (e.g. some orchestras favor solely international applicants, and exclude residents or local applicants; where others clearly lack diversity in a questionable way), etc., even though it may be written in fine print. And most importantly, the fact that we do not provide educational support in the areas of workplace/institutional misconduct, injury, legal contracts, lawsuits, and how to create inclusivity among the workplace. Does the classical music profession subtly hint at an underlying tendency towards coercive control? We've allowed so much to go on in the dark, swept under the rug, hush-hush, all out of fear of loss of reputation or judgement; and most of it is ourselves plotting against each other, rather than propelling our profession forward in a healthy and sustainable way. We've built a system that's worked against us, not for us. And yes, part of it is the role of capitalism at play and the competitive nature of our profession, and our love of recognition for our status, but think back in history....it's pretty interwoven throughout our profession. Is there not another way? Have we forgotten the true meaning of our art? Yes, corruption takes place every day, and it's not avoidable. The world, including our profession will never be a perfect or safe workplace. But the least we can do, is prevent it as much as possible....which I honestly think we haven't fought hard enough to do; to simply take care of one another. To prevent our students and others from being taken advantage of. The least we can do is be honest about the ugly truths, as well as the benefits, and educate each other on controversial issues within our profession, and what to do when in the middle of such situations. So that way, we at least show we care about one another, have some sense of integrity, and create a better workplace/profession with inclusivity and transparency for future generations to come! I love our profession, otherwise I wouldn't care to write so much on the topic of the dark side. However, I don't think many musicians have the strength and courage to address controversial topics in the classical music profession; big or small....out of fear for various reasons. Yet almost every other profession requires an understanding of controversial issues or social activism in their profession (ex. music education, the medical field) and the ability to critically think and speak on such topics.

Brass & Wind Players: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Trigeminal Neuralgia

 

Musician's Dystonia Live Talk with Dion Tucker

 

Musician's Dystonia Live Talk with David Duncan

 

Musician's Dystonia Live Talk with Anna Detari

 

Musician's Injury Live Talk with Angela Cordell Bilger

 

Musician's Dystonia Live Talk with Pianist Paul Loesel on Focal Hand Dystonia

 

Musician's Dystonia Live Talk with Pianist Richard Ware on Focal Hand Dystonia

 

Upcoming: Musician's with Dystonia and Injuries Live Talks 2021!!!

Get ready!!! The Musician's Dystonia & Injury Live Stream Series is going to be presenting new guests soon!!! Looking forward to doing interviews with musicians and friends all over the world who want to share their journey and advocate for music performance-related injuries. 

If anyone else in is interested in being interviewed, just PM me and I'll get it organized! 💕📯

Embouchure Dystonia: Overcoming the Involuntary Spasms and Contractions When You Can't Play

 

How I Currently Manage My Embouchure Dystonia Symptoms

Ice Pack Roller and Rose Quartz Roller

For those who have embouchure or cervical dystonia and find ice/heat packing helpful; I wanted to mention that I recently bought my first ice-pack roller!!

I find it much better than the standard ice pack! It helps when I have been playing a lot, as I notice when I really get back into heavy playing, my muscles both overly-tense/contract and sometimes swell around the massetter in particular; especially on days where the FD is flared up more than normal. It helps to use the roller around my jaw joint since that tends to bulk up the quickest over time. I noticed an immediate difference and it feels great.

Also the rose quartz roller (which I never thought of using before) is great for massaging sore muscles, and it has both a large and small roller attached. I still do fascia release/myofascial stretches in combination, because I think both internal and external approaches work best for me. 💕 

Ohh! I also take collagen peptide supplement pills and my joint (especially wrists and ankle) has improved drastically. But it takes about 6 weeks of taking it 2-3x a day to see a physical difference - even in appearance/skin since it's originally used for that.

Usually around this time of year with weather changes bones/joints start to hurt. It’s nice to not rely on Tylenol or Aleve rarely if ever. A bit eye-opening I have to say when you’re use to being in pain! 😊

#musicianshealth #musiciansdystonia #embouchuredystonia #musicianinjuries #hornplayers #brassplaying 🎵

Horn Snippet: Merry Christmas Horn Solo (Brass Quintet)

#musiciansdystonia #livingwithembouchuredystonia #musicianinjuryawareness

A huge thanks to Hayley for recording this (Merry Christmas)!!! Had to crop everyone out, so apologize for the weird angle or closeups. It’s a great representation of my current level of playing abilities despite being plagued with Focal Embouchure Dystonia. 

Anywhoo! It’s taken years to get back to a place of sounding somewhat decent enough to feel comfortable playing within a group again.... or even to play performances again. That’s been the greatest blessing, as I know it could be a lot worse. I first started experiencing onset symptoms of Musicians Dystonia 13 years ago.

Still there are really bad days, but the good days out number relapse symptoms days, and things seem to get better every year. I am really happy and humbled that my body/embouchure has allowed me to retrain ....and to be able to hear my sound come out the bell and ring in a hall again. 

It’s nothing short of miraculous to beat the odds to even a slight degree when it comes to this disability. I thank God so much for hearing my prayers. There has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the years....literally. There still is a hole in my heart for missing out on my dream. But I try to not focus on that and look at the positive.

I’m so thankful to play in this brass quintet with my twin sister (trumpet), my brother-in-law (trumpet/picc), and Dan and Bruce (low brass power). You guys are the best! I wouldn't feel comfortable playing among anyone else....and so happy to be playing along with your recognizable voices/instruments. Means so much!!! 🥰💕📯💕📯💕📯💕📯💕📯

- Katie A. Berglof

Horn Snippet: Bizet (Brass Quintet)

(2 of 2) Will need to expand to full-screen to see facial movements. During brass quintet rehearsal we ran through some Bizet, and I wanted to capture it on camera! 

This is a particularly difficult part for me because anytime there are simple repetitive articulation patterns, short rests that require quick sensory feedback, embouchure dystonia is wicked awful. 

I started off struggling with getting separation between the notes and then eventually it kicked in, but you can see how much the muscles in my face are moving and working just to catch up and play in the middle register over and over again. 

I had a lot of fun though and so happy I get to play with my twin sister and her husband (on trumpet) and our friends. I have surgery at 5:30am in the morning (thus my lack of effort in fixing my hair), so this was my last rehearsal tonight for the next 2 months.

Horn Snippet: West Side Story (Brass Quintet)

 (1 of 2) Will need to expand to full-screen to see facial movements. Trying to get through some of the solos in West Side Story before Brass Quintet rehearsal starts. One of my many challenges with Embouchure Dystonia is that it makes descending more difficult than ascending...a task-specificity trait. Still happy my high range is slowly coming back!!! Woot! Last rehearsal before surgery, so didn’t bother to fix my hair. Scheduled for 5:30am! Will be waking up in a few hours...

Merry Christmas, More Horn Snippets (Brass Quintet), and Family Fun

 

On Recovery