Focal Dystonia Panel at the New York Flute Fair

Focal Dystonia Panel at the New York Flute Fair!!!! I love it! So wonderful seeing what I believe is the first panel discussion on this disorder at a music/instrumental event ever.

Motivational Listening: Brahms Horn Trio - Andante

Hands down, my absolute favorite recordings of this movement! Always has been! Always will be!!! (Barry Tuckwell)

To Be Like Bamboo...

I don't think I have a spirit animal, but I do have a spirit plant. It's bamboo - as it is very strong, yet bends, making it capable of surviving immense hardship where most other mighty trees and plants would break. To me it signifies great strength and perseverance.

Motivational Listening: Pavane pour une Infante defunte

Beautiful!!!! And nicely done with organ.....cool!

NY Flute Fair: Focal Hand Dystonia and the Working Musician - Panel discussion with Stephanie Mortimore, Dr. Steven Frucht, Eric Phinney, and Abhik Mukherjee. Moderated by Caity Massoud.

Thank you Stephanie Mortimore, Dr. Frucht, Eric Phinney, and Abhik Mukherjee, for making such a huge stride in the area of Focal Hand Dystonia awareness and open communication with the public. This has to be the first panel of musicians with dystonia joining together at a conference to share their insight and experience. What progress!!!

TED Talk: Dr. Daniel Amen

"Behavior is the expression of the problem. Not the problem." - Dr. Daniel Amen

My Twin Sister Playing Trumpet at Church!

My beautiful and talented twin sister rehearsing for today's church service! I am sad that I am stuck at work missing her performance!!! I love hearing her play and seeing her do what she loves! It also warms my heart seeing my nephew Nathan being a goofy kid. Love my family so much!!! 🎺✨🎺✨ 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Music Is a Part of Me

At Orchestra Rehearsal 2020

The rest of the horn section! We just finished a sectional. During rehearsals my nephew Nathan, who I'm teaching horn, sits back stage directly behind us in the large concert hall. We took a goofy photo together during break. 📯

Tell Your Story

🥀🌷 #focaldystonia #musiciansdystonia

Symphony Orchestra 2020: Dvorak New World

Not my first time playing this symphony, but is my first time playing 4th horn on Dvorak Symphony No.9. It's even more fun playing those awesome low parts and my embouchure dystonia is manageable in this register. But the greatest blessing is playing it with family. Was planning on taking a photo of us all together on stage, but forgot! 📯🎶😊

Instrument Betrayal

When your friends or family catch you arguing with your instrument during practice.
#embouchuredystonia

Barry Tuckwell - The Greatest Influence of my Life

My greatest influence of all time has passed away today. No one will ever replace this legend. No words can express how saddening this is. I know this sounds odd, but I'm more heart broken over his passing than my recent loss of everything. This man has been all I've ever strived to be as a musician and professional. My north star which led me to my life purpose and calling. Not a day I regret following the path of the horn. It's given me so much....even if I have embouchure dystonia/neurological disorder now. Would do it all over again. From the very first moment I heard him, I loved his sound and knew I wanted to pursue horn playing. Not just in style, but I value his wisdom, professionalism, deep love for horn, and dedication to passing on the overall knowledge and study of the horn; it's repertoire and history. A true scholar. I love love LOVE this man. May heaven make a special place for Barry Tuckwell and his horn. His sound will forever echo in our realm well past this day. 📯💔😢 One of my favorite videos of him.....there's a reason he mastered it better than all of us: https://youtu.be/XSOzrP0FSJ8

Focal Embouchure Dystonia: Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!!! Here are some Christmas carols! ⛄❄⛄❄⛄❄⛄ Recorded this 30 minutes before work, in a straight mute, and no warm-up! Proud of how I sound despite no time to release tension thru prep-work. I know it's not easy to love the sound when you have embouchure dystonia, but gotta love it more than anything no matter what comes out or doesn't! Only way to enjoy playing is taking pride in what you can do...no matter how miniscule! Not focusing on what you can't do. 💕 Lots of love to the dystonian music community, and of course to my friends and family! 📯🎶🎉 #embouchuredystonia #musiciansdystonia #loveyoursound #beproud #playout

Pride in Every Step

"Don't wait until you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take." - Karen Salmansohn

Focal Dystonia Recovery: Deviate from the Norm

Focal Embouchure Dystonia Rehabilitation BE LIKE: "Without Deviation from the normal, progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa

Musicians Dystonia: Speak Out

We need more people who are willing to say, "I've been there, and I'm here. You can talk to me without judgement."

Focal Dystonia (Violin) Film About Kenny Wong by director Julian Stamboulieh

Congratulatoins Kenny Wong on Best Actor of the Alternative Film Festival - Winter 2019! Film: Dystonia by director Julian Stambouleigh.

Sensory Tricks with Dystonia

 A list of some sensory tricks (i.e. includes motor tricks/forced tricks/reverse tricks/imagery tricks) among various dystonias.

 If you know anyone that has Focal Embouchure Dystonia or thinks they might, the list of Oromandibular Dystonia (jaw dystonia) and Cervical Dystonia (neck dystonia) sensory tricks may give them temporary relief or lessen the overall strength of the symptoms.

 It's also a tell-tail sign you have dystonia if a sensory trick works. However, not all cases report sensory tricks, and some musicians don't even realize it until the neurologist finds they have one during evaluation.

 I come across a lot of brass players with FD where the symptoms and/or tension spreads to their tongue, jaw, neck, shoulders, and upper back. Some of these listed are already common tricks among brass and wind players with ED.

The most that I have come across and been reported to me consistently is: placing something between the teeth, some type of modified guard or splint, icing the face before playing (this worked for me but not the safest), touching the face or neck, drastic change in body movement/posture, focusing on a specific object or visual, change in size or back pressure of mouthpiece, and tongue depressor.

 The key is if you can find a way to incorporate it into rehabilitation or help the sensation of the sensory trick bleed over, it may aid throughout the recovery process. A few examples of this are: "geste" - visualizing the sensory trick, imagery that tricks the brain into avoiding playing mode (ex. I had to visualize blowing on hot cocoa to stop my embouchure from automatically setting). Using a modified guard or splint while playing. Incorporating a tongue depressor throughout retraining to override the damaged brain pathway.

It's not about suppressing the dystonic symptoms or avoiding them. It's about lessening them to a degree so that you have a chance to rebuild a new pathway that the brain recognizes. It's like distracting the messed up signal temporarily so you have a chance to rewire things. Sensory tricks can come in handy if you literally can't get a sound out or things are severe. However, not everyone has a sensory trick.

An actual highly successful method of treatment among musician hand dystonia patients is splinting. And there is only one study that was conducted in Japan on modified dental splinting on three patients with embouchure dystonia with all three returning to performance. It would be great if there was more research in this area of Musician's Dystonia.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4747630/

Vibro-Tactile Stimulation as Treatment for Spasmodic Dysphonia

A look at one of the many current treatments for Spasmodic Dysphonia (vocal/laryngeal dystonia). I'm currently trying to figure out if this is the same or different than using a TENS unit, because TENS has helped me.