Klarinet Archive - Posting 000078.txt from 2011/01

From: "Kathy Williams-DeVries" <kathleenwilliams76@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Depression, anti-depressants, teeth grinding and embouchure
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:19:09 -0500

Greeting learned friends from a flood disaster hit Brisbane, though I
personally am OK, fingers crossed!

I may have mentioned once or twice that I suffer from depression, and take
anti-depressants as part of an overall treatment of bipolar disorder. Now, I
am one of those people who channel their tension through their jaw,
involving a lot of teeth grinding. I'm sure if I ever visited a dentist,
they would find the condition of my back teeth to be equivalent of a meth
user, I have heard. I am in a protracted period of unwellness, and have
noticed in the last week or so my jaw tightening up considerably, using
harder and harder reeds, the breath control dropping, placing so much
pressure on the embouchure it collapses. This spelled the end of a potential
career in 2001, and it's happening again. Given that I have isolated the
problem early, perhaps things will not get that bad, I am already trying to
use the softer reeds again, beefing up the breath support. The reed
situation is difficult because of the wet humid conditions. I wonder if
anyone else was in a similar situation, or medically qualified listers would
like to weigh in with their thoughts. I would hate to have to stop playing
again, music is my solace and joy, hence the thousands of Youtube videos I
push out.

Regards,

Kathy Williams-DeVries

BMusPerf (Hons)

Grad Dip Arts (Shakespeare Studies)

ATCL, LTCL

0404946839

www.kathywilliams76.com

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