Klarinet Archive - Posting 000876.txt from 2000/07

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Strength -- no pain, no gain?
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 14:13:16 -0400

--- "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu> wrote:

> On Tue, 25 Jul 2000, Neil Leupold wrote:

> > Many people don't believe this, but it is entirely possible to reach
> > the point where practicing 7 or 8 hours at a stretch induces no
> > embouchure fatigue whatsoever, [.....]

> But, be careful. I know an oboist who went to a summer festival where she
> was playing in an orchestra or doing her own practice, sometimes up to 8
> to 10 hours per day. She caused nerve damage in her lips, and eventually
> got to the point that she couldn't even form an embouchure. She had to
> stop playing completely for about six months, had to cancel a scheduled
> concerto performance, etc. And then she had to in effect begin again at
> the beginning to build up her embouchure and her endurance.

I would lay down major money on a bet that she played a significant amount
of time in physical pain. I don't advocate this. Taxing the muscles like
an athlete is one thing, but attempting to "play through" pain for extended
periods of time is very unwise and should not become a habit.

Neil

Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org