 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-07-02 16:58
To make a long story short, I had to start taking testosterone supplements about a year ago. One of the unexpected side effects has been that my music reading and clarinet/sax playing appear to have improved, ceteris paribus.
There is no objective test that I know of to prove that my observations are accurate, and that the hormone supplements are responsible, however, I wondered if any other male BB readers have had a similar experience. If so, this should be of interest to older male clarinet players and might merit further study.
Hans
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-07-02 17:19
Hans, that's wonderful! In what way did your reading/playing ability improve? By the way, I hope that the condition you took the hormone for improved as well.
Henry
Post Edited (2003-07-02 17:58)
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Author: ginny
Date: 2003-07-02 18:18
Until I discovered that I was short on calcium back in my twenties I found that my monthly cycles created extreme good and bad playing days, depending on my hormone balance.
I read a Sci Am article on nerve transmission being chemically based on calcium and magnisum and some third element and from some other source that calcium was leeched during a part of the cycle that I found my playing suffered during! I seemed to level out after upping my calcium intake, and I don't personally believe it was the placebo thing, but you never know.
So yeah, I believe body chemistry has a big effect on playing, thinking and generally how one functions. Being fit and well certainly makes me function at a higher level!
I'm glad the side effect seems good, but it is difficult to sort out personal experience from the placebo effect.
Ginny
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-02 18:57
And after all these years of practice, practice and more practice, now I find out all I had to do was take a pill to improve those musical skills..........LOL
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-07-02 19:04
Placebo? Who cares? If it helps and isn't harmful, do it.
Hans, I had that problem for a long time as just one undesirable side effect of taking cholesterol-reducing drugs. You no doubt know that low testosterone can cause many undesirable symptoms in a male, including lethargy and a reduced ability to perform mechanical tasks.
Now that you mention it, my playing ability did improve after stopping the statin drugs (resulting in a big testosterone increase), but I don't know if the testosterone level was the primary cause or the lack of severe neuropathy (another side effect of taking the statins). I'm glad the supplements are helping you.
Regards,
John
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-07-02 20:25
Hans, I'm taking so many pills now it's a wonder my reeds don't rot--BUT, I am going to ask my group of Dr's about this, especially if it will fit with my other medications. Thanks.
Gee, maybe being short on testosterone is why I just had to buy another Alto?
Bob A
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-07-03 02:00
Why take a pharmaceutical medicine to increase testosterone? Football, beer and scantily clad women usually does the trick.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-07-03 13:51
Thank you to all who responded.
Henry,
My fingers seem faster, I learn new pieces more quickly, have more stamina to play longer, and passages that gave me trouble are easier to play; i.e., just an overall improvement. I am also more interested in playing.
I was researching the cause of my migraine headaches of the last 30 years, and found that hormones could be playing a role - so I asked for a test and the result was very low. Since an insufficient testosterone condition can cause osteoporosis, heart problems (and, apparently, impaired clarinet performance), I saw a urologist who prescribed Andriol. It didn't help the migraines, but I have since found another drug that did so I am much better off than I have been for many years in that respect as well.
Ginny,
My experience could certainly be caused by the placebo effect, but I would have expected that to diminish over a long period, but it hasn't so I remain optimistic that I am onto something useful.
William,
Your years of practice were not in vain. The pill can't do it alone.
John McAuley,
Thanks for sharing your experience. It seems very similar to mine; i.e., playing ability improved with increased testosterone.
I'm glad you no longer need to take statins.
Bob A,
I didn't feel the need to buy any more instruments when my testosterone was low, but I suppose we don't all have the same reactions to things which makes it difficult to draw conclusions. Come to think of it, I was buying a lot of power tools in the last few years......
Mark Pinner,
Your formula is much more appealing than my little pill, but at my age (58 next month) it had apparently lost its effectiveness, although I had never lost interest in your formula.
Perhaps we can interest the medical research establishment in doing a study on the effects of hormone replacement therapy on musicians' performance?
May you all live long (more years than Artie Shaw) and prosper!
Hans
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Author: Richard
Date: 2003-07-03 20:00
Hans;
After a year of testosterone shots I’ve notices a definite increase in energy (stamina), better focus and improved concentration. However the shots have done nothing for the squeaks.
JmcAulay;
I’ve been on Lovaststin for about five years and have noticed no undesirable side effects (LDL=65). Maybe a difference in statins? Who knows.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-07-03 21:04
Very interesting post . . . I wonder if it is related to the following.
I remember clearly a day back in college when I sat down to play some material that I had worked up in high school. That day my technique, speed, articulation, EVERYTHING . . . was light years beyond where I had ever been or would reach again. I really couldn't explain it. I'm not talking about the average good and bad days that we all have - this was far beyond that. If I could have played like that with some consistency, I would have and should have been a performance major. But alas . . . that day ended and the technique started returning to normal. For a brief time, however, I enjoyed the shocked look on the faces of our best players.
Did that count for my 15 minutes of fame, or should I be expecting something flashier? ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-07-04 02:11
hans wrote: "John McAulay... I'm glad you no longer need to take statins."
I didn't quit because I no longer needed them, but because they darn near killed me. Hey, statins are great... for most people. I wish I were among 'em.
Regards,
John
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