Klarinet Archive - Posting 000548.txt from 1997/06

From: Karl Krelove <kkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Air?
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 23:31:16 -0400

At 05:06 PM 6/24/97 -0700, Ryan Lowe wrote:
>Recently, when I practice, I have trouble closing off the nasal passageway
>and there is a constant hissing of air that would *normally* be stopped. I
>have tried to fix this, and I do not know what caused it. I am neither
>sick nor have done anything abnormal (ie; changed climates, mp's, reeds...)
>recently. Is this a common problem (as was my bleeding tongue:)) or what?
>
Ryan,
I've had trouble with this for years (ever since I had my tonsils out
when I was in college). It seems to happen mostly during the warm weather
and I'm fairly certain that for me it coincides with a low-level allergic
post-nasal drip problem I have more or less chronically, but especially in
the summer. When it's at its worst, I use antihistamines for the allergy
symptoms and the nasal air leak seems to go away as well. I can control it
during rehearsals or on commercial jobs where I can keep a glass of Coke or
seltzer with me as I play by taking frequent sips to keep the mucous from
building up in my throat and interfering with the seal. I know from
experience that it isn't just an annoyance. At its worst, the leak can
become so severe (at least for me) that it's disabling, because I can't
generate enough air pressure at the mouthpiece to make the reed vibrate.

Karl