Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2017-01-08 19:49
If you are feeling pain, your body is talking to you. You should be very cautious. Seek professional guidance. You should attempt to relieve the pain before damage occurs.
Regarding TMJ, this is a common issue for clarinetists.
Suggestions:
1. Do you clench your jaw - do you harbor jaw tension? If so, try to avoid those tendencies. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and remain in an open posture (teeth apart, your lips can remain closed as you prefer).
2. Remove unnecessary tension by reducing reed strength.
3. Learn to play (voice your sound) in such a way as to reduce embouchure pressure "bite". Note: changes with jaw pressure can require reed/mouthpiece changes in order to achieve your tonal concept.
4. Seek the advice of a professional who has expertise in TMJ. Dentists can offer help, but you should look for a specialist. The expert will examine you, and probably fit you with a mouth "appliance" which worn at night while sleeping causes your jaw to remain open and forward to allow the joint to repair itself over time.
5. Work with a physical therapist to develop exercises, heat and cold treatments to help mitigate pain, and strengthen your body. Prior to playing, warm up your joint with a heat pack, and stretch your jaw (these stretches will come from your PT - don't just wing it as there is a learning curve. Warning: you could over stretch and make things worse if you don't know what you are doing). "Ice" the joint following a session to reduce inflammation. Warning: proper ice packs and technique is important. Icing shouldn't be too long, and actual ice isn't advised - use a gel cold-pack which is frozen, and place a cloth between the cold-pack and your jaw for an interval of about 15 minutes.
Bottom line: This is a very important issue, and it must be treated with care and seriousness of intent. Pain over time can cause damage. Damage can kill your music career!
Good luck,
Brad
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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