Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 1998/08

From: "MARY A. VINQUIST" <kenshaw@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] The Valsalva Maneuver and Heart Stoppage
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 07:50:19 -0400

On August 11, David C. Blumberg wrote:

>>A study of trumpet players shows that tooting and marching can be a
heart-stopping performance in more ways than one. By hooking trumpet
players to electrocardiographs, Texas researchers Leigh Anne Hunsaker of
Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and Darhyl Ramsey of the University =
of
North Texas in Denton, have shown that the heart goes through all sorts o=
f
odd contractions and arrhythmia in trumpet players. The results of their=

study are in the current issue of the journal Medical Problems in the
Performing Arts. One action in particular, the Valsalva maneuver, actual=
ly
causes the heart to stop momentarily, Hunsaker says. The maneuver is done=

by closing the airways and then trying to blow out air.<<

Not to be too delicate about it, the Valsalva maneuver is the complex
series of muscle contractions we use in defecating. This is not somethin=
g
we train ourselves to do quickly. Also, the muscles are large, and the
action is complex. The result is that making the Valsalva maneuver while=

playing involves substantial movement that does not contribute to playing=

and interferes with breath control.

The best explanation I seen is in Arnold Jacobs: The Legacy of a Master,
edited by M. Dee Stewart and published by The Instrumentalist Publishing
Co. in 1987. The book is a collection of essays in appreciation of Jacob=
s
by his students. Stewart played trombone and euphonium in the Chicago
Symphony. Jacobs was for innumerable years the Chicago tuba player and t=
he
soul of its brass section, as well as one of the great experts on the
mechanism of breathing for musicians.

The book has a tremendous amount to teach all wind players. In my own
case, becoming aware that I was making the Valsalva maneuver to prepare f=
or
beginning the tone, and concentrating on avoiding it, has greatly
simplified and improved my breath control.

I don't know whether the book is still available, but I have read that
Lawrie Bloom (bass clarinet in Chicago) has gone through training with
Jacobs and swears by his methods. Perhaps he could be persuaded to write=

something up for the list.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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