 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetplayer100
Date: 2020-06-06 16:02
Hello Everyone--
I am a high school student who is suffering from severe throat tension and an SVPI when I play. I can play for about three minutes consecutively before air starts leaking out of my nose. After I play, I have pain and fatigue in my mouth and throat. I am currently playing on a Buffet R13 on a M13 Vandoren mouthpiece. I used to play on strength 3 reeds from Vandoren but have now switched to 2.5 reeds from Mitchell Lurie.
Also, I would like to mention that I played in marching band with my plastic B12 Buffet clarinet, and then switched back to my wooden R13 Buffet for concert season.
I have a few questions here that could be causing these problems:
1.) Since I went from a beginner clarinet to a Buffet R13, could I have jumped to quick to a professional clarinet that is causing the resistance and throat tension?
2.) Would switching to an intermediate clarinet (Yamaha, Buffet E11 etc.) help with my problem?
3.) Since I switched from the plastic clarinet to wooden, could that have caused this issue?
4.) What else could be causing this problem?
I have been doing fundamental work, like breathing and embouchure exercises. I have significantly changed my posture as well. I still feel resistance on the 2.5 reeds.
I would appreciate any thoughts on this. Thank you for your time!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2020-06-06 17:40
Do you mean 3 minutes from the first notes you play after unpacking your instrument? All of the following is based on that understanding of what you wrote.
My advice with such quick onset of your velo-pharyngeal symptoms is, get a medical evaluation. Start with your family GP, who probably will refer you to an ear-nose-throat doctor for an evaluation. A speech therapist could become involved if the ENT doc recommends it. If your GP can't see an obvious problem and doesn't recommend at ENT, ask him to. As a high school student, you may need a parent's help with arranging this
Depending on where you are, there are ENTs who actually specialize, or at least focus, on this kind of problem.
You don't say how long you've been playing the clarinet or what the history of this throat problem is within your entire history as a clarinet student. If you've been playing for several years and this developed suddenly, did anything else happen to you physically - medically - that you might not be associating with the VPI?
None of the instrument changes you ask about will make a huge difference unless your R13 is so leak-ridden that you shouldn't be getting a sound from it at all. An M13 with Lurie #2.5 reeds is about as easy-blowing a combination as you could have.
Deep breathing practice can't hurt and can help in many other areas as well (it's an important part of Yoga and most meditation techniques). Embouchure exercises - I don't know exactly what you're doing - should be focused on getting a clean sound with the least possible pressure. Don't go into exaggerated contortions that add more stress. Beyond clean sound production, embouchure "exercises" are generally for building control and endurance, which is hard to do in 3 minutes of playing time. Posture, as I have been rediscovering for myself, can make a difference in how much air you can inhale and how well you can control the exhalation muscles. Whatever you practice doing, it shouldn't involve adding stress or tension anywhere in your upper respiratory system, throat or mouth. No contorting to do things "the right way."
In my own experience, air leaking through my nose when I'm trying to play is almost entirely a result of fatigue. But for me it doesn't start with less than an hour's non-stop playing time, a little beyond your 3-minute limit. I can easily manage a standard 2.5 hour rehearsal with all the downtime they include. My limit lengthens and shortens depending on how in-shape I am. It *is* affected by playing on too strong reeds. I suppose it would be aggravated by playing on a really stuffy instrument. But, you write that the leaking begins after about 3 minutes, which I don't think is likely to be explained by resistant equipment.
You might clarify the history of this a little more. VPI can be a very frustrating problem.
Karl
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Author: clarinetplayer100
Date: 2020-06-06 18:30
Thank you for the response. I should have been more clear. I have been playing for 4 years now. I have also been to an ENT, but he did not find anything. As for physical health, I did have some sinus issues at the onset of this issue, but that has been relieved now. I have been having the SVPI and throat tension problem for 9-10 months, so I think I have gotten into a really bad habit with it potentially.
I would say that after unpacking, about 3 minutes into playing consecutively from the first notes that I play, my mouth feels tired and air starts leaking out of my nose.
So overall, I have been playing for 4 years and have had this problem for 9-10 months. I have been playing on the R13 for 1.5 years. I would like to clarify that I only suffer the VPI when I am playing, not when I am talking or going through daily life.
Post Edited (2020-06-06 18:31)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2020-06-06 19:09
One other thing, since you mention sinus issues, that I find is that during allergy seasons when my allergic post-nasal drip is at its worst my VPI leakage also causes me the most trouble. I can imagine (but not prove) that the extra mucous lubricates the opening that allows air to go through my nostrils and makes the seal less effective. You could try drinking some water when the symptoms develop just to clear the area and, maybe,. buy some extra playing time.
Have you had a skilled clarinetist try your setup (I know in this COVID-19 era that's a risk most people won't take) to make sure you aren't fighting unacceptable resistance?
The most important part of this is to avoid doing anything consciously to try to affect your throat shape or position, i.e. in an effort to get a bigger or louder tone. Let your throat area be natural. In fact, try to let the whole inside of your mouth and your soft palate relax into their natural positions to avoid fatiguing any of the musculature.
I assume when you saw the ENT you told him that the problem develops only after a few minutes of playing clarinet but that you hadn't played before he saw you. It would maybe take an extra bit of patience on the doc's part to have you play for him or in a separate exam room until the leaking starts so he can look at your throat then. You could give it a jump start by first getting it to happen at home before you go to the exam. If the doc were willing to do this at all, it would need to be agreed on ahead of time.
For a more common parallel, I really can't count all the times I've had problems with my car that only developed after running it for a few minutes. A mechanic looking at it when it's cold tells me that there's nothing wrong. Sometimes, if I'm lucky or insistent, he'll test-drive it and see the problem for himself.
Karl
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-06-06 19:32
A friend who has this problem got some good results using a saline nasal spray just before playing.
Tony F.
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Author: clarinetplayer100
Date: 2020-06-06 19:35
Thank you for the response and ideas! I will be sure to try them out and maybe even ask the ENT to look into my throat while playing.
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Author: nbclarinet
Date: 2020-06-06 22:05
This same thing happened to me when I was in High school. It took me a long time to figure out the cause and what to do in order to manage it. I also went to an ENT, tried saline spray, and lots of other things but none worked.
For me it was a combination of working hard on refining my voicing and learning how to play more efficiently and with solid air support that finally did it. It can be stubborn, but it certainly possible to overcome it. Send me an email and I’d be happy to discuss it further with you
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