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 Illness through playing
Author: zzzzz 
Date:   2005-02-06 15:19

Any doctors out there??

I am often ill - problems with my throat, constantly losing my voice... :( don't know if problems have been made worse by playing clarinet and otehr instruments all the time or if it is just fluke. Is it possible to get ill through playing too much?? sounds strange to me but people keep telling me to stop playing so much...

any advice would be great

cheers
:)



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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: Aussiegirl 
Date:   2005-02-07 09:02

Ive found that i often get sick right before important musical events like shows ( i lost my voice for a solid week during dress rehearsals of "My Favorite Year") or exams, getting a throat infection before my last one. I thought it was from my clarinet but then i realised that these were also the times when i got the most tired, rundown, and stressed. Thats just what happens to me, but it might be worth thinking about!

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: Marnix van den Berg 
Date:   2005-02-07 09:52

I had the same problem when we were preparing for a big choir project (I had to sing a bass part) AND I had to prepare for a clarinet recital. The combination of hour-long choir rehearsals and lots of practicing the clarinet really stresses your breathing/speaking apparatus. I had to take it easy during the third and fourth day, just before the concerts to recover my voice/tone because I had been overdoing it.
I suggest taking it a little more easy or just don't practice for a day or two.

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: Brenda 
Date:   2005-02-07 13:37

In my experience it's not at all from playing too much, but rather the late nights and early mornings, packing too much into each day. Each of us has a weak spot, and when we don't take care of our own mental and physical health that weak spot will always remind us. The old fashioned advice of eat really well but not a lot, get a good quality sleep, and rest the mind and spirit each day will probably go a long way towards helping. Oh, and laugh heartily!



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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: MGarrison 
Date:   2005-02-07 17:03

Just a few obvious points, but I'll mention them anyway (I am not suggesting you are doing this so don't flame me, but they are worth remembering).

-Don't share mouthpieces, reeds etc, or let other people try yours (including your instructor, unless you are specifically trying to diagnose a problem with your setup)
-Wash your mouthpiece in soapy water every once in a while (depending on frequency of play), and especially if you are sick (sore throat, cold etc) as germs survive on these surfaces for a while
-Wash your cleaner (pull through hankerchief or whatever) with soapy water every once in a while

I've seen many younger players (high school and community band) not follow these basic rules of instrument hygiene.

Marina

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: zzzzz 
Date:   2005-02-07 18:52

It probably has a great deal to do with stress, although it is not entirely related as I can still lose my voice for 2 weeks at a time without being under any pressure or being tired etc - but been quite hairy round here lately!

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2005-02-07 19:21

tension tension and tension is not good for nobody....

forgive the slang.

David Dow

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: LeWhite 
Date:   2005-02-07 23:41

I used to get sick often from playing - the lymph nodes in my neck would swell up and before I knew it I had a throat infection!

I used to think this was from tension but a few years ago I had my tonsils out and it helped a lot, and I recently had my wisdom teeth out and so far it looks like that's done the trick.

__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! [down]Buffet

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: 3dogmom 
Date:   2005-02-08 00:03

I have had this problem with my voice and it is very important that you see an ENT doctor, and probably get voice therapy. A loss of voice is a sign of a problem. In my case, I had nothing physically wrong with me but I had suffered a severe vocal strain which accummulated over years of not using my voice correctly. I had to learn proper vocal hygiene, and relearn how to use my voice.


IMHOP, this is not something to wait through. Go soon. Good luck.

Sue

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 Re: Illness through playing
Author: zzzzz 
Date:   2005-02-08 19:58

ooh dear - doesnt sound too good the - glad to know im not alone though

thanks for the advice!!

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