practice problem
The Squis
season.. and when going through our music..even when it is inside and after an
hour of lunch break.. I get dizzy after playing for even two measures(4/4)
standing still in air conditioning. We warmup well before playing, but i even
get dizzy during those.. I find myself either having to stop or falling down...
I know it sounds weird, but since there are a lot of people more experienced
than I on this newsgroup, I figured I would ask for any possible reasons for
this.....???
Suzy Wilson
Clarient Player
Decatur Central Marching Hawks
Bob & Liz Fowler
too open and or with a reed that's way to hard, you shouldn't be working
hard enough to get dizzy. I've had dizzy spells that turned out to be
vertigo caused by exposure to very loud noise, but I've also had walking
pneumonia cause dizziness as well. Soooooo, without delay, get yourself
checked out BY A DOCTOR.
--
Bob Fowler
sax...@superlink.net
http://mars.superlink.net/saxman
The Squis <thes...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990810232031...@ng-bg1.aol.com...
Doug.
<sax...@superlink.net> writes
your problem.
You will find helpful friends here who are not fired up with nasty
political mores. We are musicians, that's all that needs to be said.
I am surprised you don't mention a clarinet-playing Tutor.
Mow, as to your problem.
You certainly have something wrong there. I have a feeling that your
problem can be solved.
At your age you should be able to smartly march and play no bother at
all.. Trust me, I have been playing many many years. I am now retired
and still playing.
Firstly you must not in any way panic , but to qiuetly go into the
process of gently trying to find out the cause.
Have confidence! and don't despair.
Mr. Fowler is absolutely correct in what he says. I immediately thought
when I read your post, --
1. Big open-lay mouthpiece or a very hard reed.
2. Leaking or otherwise faulty instrument.
2. Maybe a touch of asthma. Don't be fright. It is very common. My
wife uses "puffers" occasionaly, and my grandson has had it all his
life. He uses puffers and predislone tablets and is happy and healthy.
He also plays the clarinet and plays netball and swims like a fish.
In your case you should be using a 1-and-a -half-strength reed. No more
than a 2.
Put your mouthpiece minus the reed, on a flat surface, the flat of the
mouthpiece, (what I call the "lay") platform down on the flat surface.
My "flat surface" is a small piece of glass 3 inches by two inches, with
the edges smoothed so I don't cut my fingers.
Hold it sideways on to the eyes and sight it where the tip is, looking
at the light from a window.
Do NOT look at the sun, you will damage your eyes.
My mouthpiece, designed for Classical playing, is exactly one-eighth-of
an inch open at the tip. I feel sure that yours should not exceed this
length.
That means the distance from the mouthpiece tip, to the glass surface.
I use an eyeglass, (it is called a monocular or most commonly, a Lupe.)
I put the mouthpiece tip in line with the edge of the glass, to measure
the distance
The length of the lay on my m/piece, - that is the distance from the
mouthpiece tip to the point where it meets and touches the glass, - is
three-quarters of an inch.
I feel that this mouthpiece measurements are just right for you.
Do this test. Sit down properly, no slouching, head nicely erect, but
comfortable, feet flat on the ground in normal stance and back erect,but
comfortable.
Put instrument, at an angle just nicely below horizontal to your mouth.
With nice but not too heavy or hard pressure, blow fairly quietly
forming your lips embouchure (the formation of your mouth and lips)
correctly.
It should nicely, (that means not too much and not too little), pour
out the sound, It should pour out, no bother.
That should tell you all about the reed, the mouthpiece and your
embouchure
Now, as to breathlessness or dizziness. I am holding in my hand my
wife's "Blower" tester. Used by all asthmatics it measures the strength
of one's blow-power,
It's quite a simple thing.
My blow is 500, My wife's is 25 on this thing.
So it's check your mouthpiece and reed strength, and the validity of
your instrument.
But don't be afraid to make an appointment with your Doctor, and don't
just sit there mumbling. He is your friend and he has had some
experience in medicine and health,....and then some!.
Taking Mama with you is a good idea.
Best of luck, and you tell us how you get along, - y/hear?!
P.S.
We were with friends in Decatur, Georgia in 1980 for a few weeks, with a
Radio Ham friend. They live in Doris Drive. Visited all the battle-
fields. We had a lovely time.
My hero was General Tecumsah Sherman.
--Doug.
The Squis
saw my doctor, as advised, about the dizziness and they did some tests and
found that I have diabetes... with the physical strain of playing and marching
plus the "wonderful" band camp food the doctor was surprised that the reaction
wasn't worse than just dizziness. Well it does not appear to be to serious, I
don't even have to take insulin shots or anything yet, thank goodness, and I
can still march with only a few pills and careful diet...
Thanks,
Suzy Wilson
DCHS Marching Hawks
Clarinet 2002
Doug.
<thes...@aol.com> writes
Wonderful news!. Oh! and I forgot to say last time.:-
Don't try to blow your guts out, Don't try to be louder than anyone
else.
I have the feeling you may be blowing till you are blue in the face!.
Just play nicely, it blends in better with the other players.
Good luck -- and take it easy, now, - won't you!.
--Doug.
David Blumberg
David Blumberg
pla...@mytempo.com
Boosey & Hawkes - Rico Corp Grand Concert Artist
http://www.mytempo.com Accompaniments for Woodwind Players Custom Tempo
on Audio CD - Over 250 Pieces
--------------------
Bob & Liz Fowler <sax...@superlink.net> wrote in message
news:rr2n2n...@news.supernews.com...
Bob Fowler
> I would like to thank everyone for the advice! it was very helpful. I
went and
> saw my doctor, as advised, about the dizziness and they did some tests
and
> found that I have diabetes... with the physical strain of playing and
marching
> plus the "wonderful" band camp food the doctor was surprised that the
reaction
> wasn't worse than just dizziness. Well it does not appear to be to
serious, I
> don't even have to take insulin shots or anything yet, thank goodness, and
I
> can still march with only a few pills and careful diet...
>
> Thanks,
> Suzy Wilson
> DCHS Marching Hawks
> Clarinet 2002
I'm glad you went to the doctor. A lot of people have diabetes and don't
know it. Identifying it while your young and taking appropriate steps to
manage it will go a long way in improving your quality of life as you get
older.
Best Regards,
--
õ¿ó
The Squis
>Does it happen only when you play Clarinet?
I don't do much else :o)