 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vampiric_conure
Date: 2020-05-06 04:15
After a 30 year hiatus from playing the clarinet, I am now the proud owner of a student quality clarinet! (It's my first owned clarinet, so it's particularly special, LOL). There's one fly in the serum, though. I've had Bell's Palsy for the past 15 years and it's made playing the clarinet... challenging... to say the least. I knew it was going to be a problem playing. I didn't realize how MUCH of a problem :( I have to hold the instrument at an odd angle and it squeaks horribly. But I can blow and make (kinda) music!
I was wondering if there were any other wood instrument players out there who've got Bell's Palsy and still manage to perform? I'm doing research into getting a denture prosthetic that will help me play again.
Beware of Killer Cockatiels!
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2020-05-06 17:34
Here is an article from the Sax Journal.
https://www.dornpub.com/saxophonejournal/bellspalsy.html
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Andy Harper
Date: 2020-05-08 17:20
Around 3 years ago I suffered from a bout of Bell’s Palsy. I went from working in London, to not being able to make a sound overnight. Over the course of 6 months of facial physiotherapy, which involved around 3 - 4 hours of stretches every day I slowly started playing again. When I first made a sound it was about 6 weeks after my hospitalisation, and I could sustain a sound with a 1.5 reed for about 3 seconds. It was a pain staking gradual process which had many small achievements along the way. After 6 months I finally played my first gig, and over the following 6 months I got my playing back to full form. It was most certainly not quick, stress free or easy. The tips I would offer from my experience are:
- Facial physiotherapy is a must! The exercises that you do help not to overstrain the good side, and to help keep the bad side nimble ready for nerve regrowth. I am certain my recovery and ability to perform at a high level now is down to the excellent medical professionals I worked with.
- Do not try to rush what you cannot do. Straining the nerves to make connections that aren’t there is both frustrating and useless.
- Set little goals. I was set on being able to play for 1 minute, then increased that to 1.5. Then it was moving up a strength in reed etc. Don’t try to play the Mozart on day 1. They seem rather insignificant to some people, but I found the day I could play for 10 mins without losing air to be a wonderful achievement.
-Reduce reed strength from what you want to use, to what is comfortable. I have used V12 3.5 reeds for 20 years, but had to change to traditional 1.5 in order to make a sound when recovering. While it isn’t the best for your ego, making a sound and developing that is better then continually struggling.
- I found bass clarinet a good starting point. As air supply was never an issue, the slightly more relaxed mouth position fro bass was a good way to play without straining.
- I did a fair bit of silent practice to keep my fingers nimble. Scales, studies anything like that to keep you ready for when you can play again were great sources of looking forward to me.
If I think of anything else, I will post again, or feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss.
Andy Harper
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2020-05-11 00:41
I would be interested to know what exercises you did on your facial muscles as it might help new adult starters like me who are trying to work up strength.
Thanks!
Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Bb clarinet European Cut #2.5, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.
Post Edited (2020-05-11 10:30)
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