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Re: older adult student and shaking in sound

Author: RKing
Date: 2017-02-17 23:52

This thread also describes me to a "T". I am now an "older adult", who went back to my favorite music instruments a few years ago for enjoyment and fellowship.

Basically, my instructor tells me that I have a "natural vibrato" in my jaw muscles and I spend a lot of time playing nice long and smooth notes in order to minimize and control it. I do not have any neurological disorders or diseases. The vibrato in my jaw now is simply due to nervous tension.

I also work very hard on breath control, because the vibrato (and shaking) can start and quickly get out of control if I try to play a long passage without taking a breath. So that is another area where I have to go through my music and mark it up to make sure I don't stress out in certain areas.

My vibrato is well under control when I play the sax because I am pretty good on that horn and feel very comfortable. I am still adjusting to the clarinet and just noticed this week that I am more relaxed than when I picked it up - and the tremors have abated.

I sometimes have older people ask me about learning an instrument and I simply tell them to relax, take it slow, and enjoy it. I used to depend on music for my grocery money and it's a lot more fun to play with nothing on the line but my enjoyment.

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