 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C.Elizabeth07
Date: 2012-10-25 03:27
I am in a M.M. program and practice around 5-6 hours a day, plus anywhere from 2-5 hours of rehearsals a day. Within the last 2 weeks I've wound up with jaw pain after playing.
I don't notice that I am doing anything different then I normally do. But after I finish playing I can feel my jaw shift to one side, it actually becomes difficult to shut my mouth all the way.
I have a lesson tomorrow so I am going to talk to my teacher about it and make a doctors appointment. I was just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar or had any advice.
I know I should take it easy but it really isn't an option right now. Any advice would be great!
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Author: danb1937
Date: 2012-10-25 11:18
Elizabeth,
What you probably have is TMJ (temporo mandibular joint) syndrome. It can occur with too much playing, even to the point of the jaw locking up. I had a bad case of it about 10 years ago, and my dentist manipulated my lower jaw until it relaxed. Some people use ice on the joint; others use heat. Use whichever gives you relief.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2012-10-25 13:15
I think your doing far too much practice. 4 hours is more than enough. Your body is telling you also hence the jaw pain.
Reduce your practice hours and change the way you practice so that you gain more in a shorter space of time.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-10-25 13:48
I had the same thought as Peter. Itzak Perlman (not a shabby player himself) said that 4-5 hours is more than enough. But even this was NOT 5 continuous hours but rather 50 minutes of playing and 10 minutes rest EVERY hour !!!!
You may just have completely pumped up your jaw muscles (too much biting as well???) ala Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some well deserved rest and a Motrin may be the key.
....................Paul Aviles
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-10-25 14:05
Some well deserved rest and a martini may be an even better key. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Seriously, if you're playing 11 hours a day, you need to cut back. It's more than the human body, or at least your human body, can take. Some famous players (Leon Fleischer, Gary Graffman, Alex Klein) have had their careers ended because they ignored signals from their bodies crying "too much."
With all the rehearsals, you don't need 5-6 hours of practice to stay in shape. Take a couple of those hours to go to the gym or jog. That will also get you out of a chair. If you jog, loosen your jaw to let it move around. You'll see many distance runners whose jaws are flapping.
Ken Shaw
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Author: SchlockRod
Date: 2012-10-25 16:59
I agree you need to relax... yoga, Scotch, whatever works, will help your playing, making practice more efficient, and yes you probably need to cut back or at least break it up into smaller periods with rest in between.
Could your reed be a bit too hard? I think too soft is better for many reasons, this not the least...
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2012-10-25 17:01
While I agree that the time you're spending playing may be part of the issue I wonder whether there may be some slight difference in something like the particular reeds you have at the moment or the particular pieces or exercises you're doing. For instance I would think that a reed that's getting a bit soft might cause bite tension.
Good luck
Vanessa
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2012-10-25 19:05
Yes I think it may be TMJ syndrome too! I have it as do many people on my mother's side of the family. Does your jaw sometimes make a clonking sound when you are eating? I find when I am stressed I can get more tension in the jaw and it can get worse. I find I can manage 4 hours a day....... 2 sessions x2 hours but make sure that you rest well in between. Maybe try practicing fingering etc without actually playing to give your jaw a rest. Some of my family have had surgery to sort it and it has given them good results. I am not a professional player so I do not have that 'must play' pressure. Hope you can work out what is best for you ;-)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-10-25 19:52
"I know I should take it easy but it really isn't an option right now. Any advice would be great!"
You already know the answer, you're looking for a way to avoid it. Listen to what your body is telling you. Any repetitive action carried to excess will eventually cause damage. I'm not a professional, but I know a lot of people who are. None of them find it necessary to practice for 10-12 hours a day. A friend had a similar problem to yours years ago, and his GP associated it with the fact that he habitually chewed gum, and he'd developed a muscular imbalance around the jaw. Not sure if this is relevant in your case.
Tony F.
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