Advice for embouchure dystonia

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kookposaune
Posts: 6
Joined: Oct 20, 2024

by kookposaune »

Hello, I'm college amateur player in S.Korea. Currently I'm suffering from an embouchure dystonia which started about 2 months ago, I'm doing lip excercises(Dr. McGrail's Lip Exercises) and moithpiece practices and I'm using robinson's lip recovery cream but it doesn't seem it's getting better. It would be greatful if I could get any advice..

My symptom is similar to this video

<YOUTUBE id="QU5cZLDQ8qM">https://youtu.be/QU5cZLDQ8qM?si=9Oz5KY4LH0LTa8Tk</YOUTUBE>
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StephenK
Posts: 171
Joined: Mar 26, 2018

by StephenK »

Perhaps it's worth looking up the various articles and videos that David Vining has created, and his journey to overcome it.
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

I have my own methods of diagnosing the issues that lead to that situation, and then fixing the actual problems to make playing work efficiently again. Correct playing for your individual face is really important.
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kookposaune
Posts: 6
Joined: Oct 20, 2024

by kookposaune »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]I have my own methods of diagnosing the issues that lead to that situation, and then fixing the actual problems to make playing work efficiently again. Correct playing for your individual face is really important.[/quote]
Thank you i'll try with my face
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

[quote="kookposaune"]<QUOTE author="Doug Elliott" post_id="274521" time="1745997249" user_id="51">
I have my own methods of diagnosing the issues that lead to that situation, and then fixing the actual problems to make playing work efficiently again. Correct playing for your individual face is really important.[/quote]
Thank you i'll try with my face
</QUOTE>

Have a Skype lesson with Doug :clever:
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kookposaune
Posts: 6
Joined: Oct 20, 2024

by kookposaune »

[quote="Vegasbound"]<QUOTE author="kookposaune" post_id="274524" time="1745999243" user_id="18667">

Thank you i'll try with my face[/quote]

Have a Skype lesson with Doug :clever:
</QUOTE>
I'm not sure.. since I'm not that good at english and time zone is also different here..
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

I'm used to dealing with time differences, that's not a problem. Not sure about the language though... it might be OK.
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Savio
Posts: 688
Joined: Apr 26, 2018

by Savio »

What exactly is dystonia? Muscle problem? I read that even famous musicians, both trumpet and trombone, can get it. Even string players? I think it must involve incorrect use of muscles?

Leif
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Savio
Posts: 688
Joined: Apr 26, 2018

by Savio »

What exactly is dystonia? Muscle problem? I read that even famous musicians, both trumpet and trombone, can get it. Even string players? I think it must involve incorrect use of muscles? Both around the mouth but maybe in the hole body?

Leif
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

[quote="Savio"]What exactly is dystonia? Muscle problem? I read that even famous musicians, both trumpet and trombone, can get it. Even string players? I think it must involve incorrect use of muscles?

Leif[/quote]

It is a condition where you lose control over the muscles that create an embouchure. The full name is "Focal Dystonia". Sometimes you can use therapy to create alternative ways to control the embouchure and sometimes you can't. There is another condition known as "Bell's Palsy" that is a viral infection that affects the neurons of the facial muscles which can be a career ending illness. I have known people who recovered from Bell's and resumed playing and others who were unable to resume playing.
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afugate
Posts: 671
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by afugate »

[quote="BGuttman"]<QUOTE author="Savio" post_id="274562" time="1746043556" user_id="3155">
What exactly is dystonia? Muscle problem? I read that even famous musicians, both trumpet and trombone, can get it. Even string players? I think it must involve incorrect use of muscles?

Leif[/quote]

It is a condition where you lose control over the muscles that create an embouchure. The full name is "Focal Dystonia". Sometimes you can use therapy to create alternative ways to control the embouchure and sometimes you can't. There is another condition known as "Bell's Palsy" that is a viral infection that affects the neurons of the facial muscles which can be a career ending illness. I have known people who recovered from Bell's and resumed playing and others who were unable to resume playing.
</QUOTE>

Even more specifically, the term is "Task-specific Focal Dystonia" since the lost off muscle control only happens when performing specific tasks.

Golfer's "yips" when putting are one form of Task-specific Focal Dystonia.

--Andy in OK
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tbdana
Posts: 1928
Joined: Apr 08, 2023

by tbdana »

If you have embouchure dystonia, a web forum is not the place to seek advice. Get with Doug or Dave. Talk to those who have/had it. Find an expert in the field. This isn't something to mess around with.
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

At one time Jan Kagarice was working with players suffering from Focal Dystonia, but I haven't heard mention of her in a number of years.
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tbdana
Posts: 1928
Joined: Apr 08, 2023

by tbdana »

[quote="BGuttman"]At one time Jan Kagarice was working with players suffering from Focal Dystonia, but I haven't heard mention of her in a number of years.[/quote]

She still is.
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kbryson
Posts: 47
Joined: Jul 24, 2018

by kbryson »

[quote="BGuttman"]At one time Jan Kagarice was working with players suffering from Focal Dystonia, but I haven't heard mention of her in a number of years.[/quote]

Yes, I've been working with Jan, highly recommend. OP, Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions about her methods or process.