 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: JRC
Date: 2014-03-14 17:59
I had UPPP surgery done in the past. It is basically removing excessive tissue (soft palate and uvula) around the throat to open up airways. These tissues are the vibrating elements for making noise when one snores. Sleep apnea is often caused by these excessive tissues and snoring.
What is the connection to oboe playing? Well... I did not know of its affects to oboe playing until recently. I have a chamber music session with bunch of string players regularly. One day, we decided to do some early Hayden string quartets and I played the 1st violin part... about 4 hours. Oboe part was full of notes, and I was blowing notes nearly all the time for the entire time. Then it happened. Apparently the muscles that controlled the soft palate to block the airways to the nose while I play oboe became too tired and could not maintain blocking the air ways to nose entirely. So the air started to leak into nose and the soft palate tissues started vibrating... snoring...!! But enough air was going to the reed for me to continue playing the oboe. I was snoring and playing oboe at the same time. The snoring sound and my oboe sound together started make a harmony... I was double stopping...!!! Everyone in the room stopped playing and looked at me. They exclaimed "You are double stopping with oboe!!"
My throat muscles felt weak and sore for the rest of the day. I was OK the next day. I thought someone might be interested in this unique phenomena.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2014-03-15 12:22
Very interesting. I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea four years ago and have used a CPAP ever since. I've always speculated that it had to do with the buildup of certain muscles in my throat, because they're the same muscles that I snore with that I control my throat vibrato with.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-03-16 18:36
I know for certain my soft palate is either weak or just doesn't seal properly as whenever I drink anything, some of it inevitably goes up into my nose. It also makes some words difficult to pronounce (such as 'Wednesday') as air escapes through my nose and I get a buzz on the 'n' sounds.
I have trouble breathing through my nose at the best of times - I rarely ever have both nostrils clear as one of them is always blocked at any point. Not sure if I have nasal polyps but I do have a deviated septum which is causing constriction.
To top it off I've been on the waiting list for years to have it all seen to, such is the efficiency of the National Health Service - they probably lost my file or records which isn't the first time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2014-03-19 00:22
When I was a student, when my chops began to tire to the point of failure, the first thing to go was my palate. I could still hold the reed in my mouth but couldn't blow becaust the air just went out my nose.
Never got to play double stops, though...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: kimber
Date: 2014-04-03 02:16
Chris
Yes, beverages going up into the nasal cavity during drinking is a red flag for velopharyngeal insufficiency. The bacteria in the drinks can also be irritating the nasal tissues. Hopefully, your health system will catch up with you soon.
The 'good' news is that your blocked nose is probably also helping to reduce air leaking during playing.
:-)
Part-time oboe player...full-time speech/swallow therapist
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-03 22:08
The downside being I can't circular breathe easily while my nostrils are bunged up. I can feel a vacuum form inside the back of my nose when I'm having a drink when I swallow. I've got some Sudafed to hopefully clear up my sinuses as they're all inflamed at the moment as well, so not doing too good at all in this department.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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