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Re: TMJ / Jaw pain

Author: Bartmann
Date: 2007-07-05 15:27

Alliejayde,

I used to have severe TMJ but now I have occasional TMJ. My jaw pain has abated over the years because I've been playing less clarinet. There are some things I've done to lessen the pain.

First I switched mouthpieces to a narrow profile Vandoren 88 and a Morgan RM6. Because these mouthpieces are flatter, I don't open my jaw so wide and that helps.

Second, chew slower and take smaller bites. And don't chew food that's too hard and crunchy.

Third, several years ago I started playing the flute and don't experience jaw pain when I play it. However, when I play my clarinet for long periods of time, day after day, I notice the beginings of pain. Then I lay off the clarinet for a couple of days and I'm fine.

But switching to the flute has really been a blessing to me because I can still make music. Even though with an excellent reed I prefer the clarinet sound and its range, especially the chalumeau that sounds so distinct among woodwinds, the flute has been a very easy instrument to pick up, especially after years on the clarinet, and is also a very beautiful instrument. Perhaps it's the easiest second instrument for clarinetists to pick up after the sax.

TMJ is a problem that doesn't just go away. And you will be using your jaw to do basic things like chewing and speaking for the rest of your life. So at the tender age of 17 you may want to diversify your selection of instruments.

Imagine you were a tuba player and complained of back pains because of carrying a heavy instrument. And the doctor suggests a back brace. I would say try switching to trumpet or french horn. Because carrying that heavy tuba, year after year would clearly make your back worse.

I suggest you learn another instrument, and spread your music making among more instruments. This way you will not stress the same joints and muscles in the exact same way day after day. The clarinet embouchure is very physically demanding. And it can take its toll on the health of the jaw.

I know about the fear of learning a new instrument and not wanting to be a beginner all over again. However you will never be a true beginner after having learned the clarinet. You know music theory, intervals, breath support, phrasing, and fingerings. If you choose the flute you only have to learn a dozen more fingerings to play the flute and learn a new embouchure.

And the best part, because the flute embouchure is so relaxed, you can play for hours and experience neither pain nor fatigue. So you can improve really fast on the flute. Remember when you first started playing the clarinet you couldn't play more than ten minutes before either your bottom lip got sore or your embouchure died? Well when you play the flute you can literally play for hours, even at the earliest stages of your learning. So improvement on the flute is much faster than on the clarinet because it isn't limited by embouchure decay or pain in the lower lip.

And after you learn another instrument and can play it well, you realize that what's important to you is making music. Each instrument you play brings its unique voice to the music you make.

Bartmann

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