[TPIN] Involuntarily shaking chops

[Michael Anderson]

Bruce,

This MAY be focal dystonia. There is an entry in Hickman's pedagogy book on
this. There are a couple of specialists in the country that are helping
people with it. Email me off-list and I'll tell you the little bit I know.
Perhaps there are others here that know more about F.D.

AM


> From: Bruce Dresser <bdresser at charter.net>
> Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:33:12 -0700
> To: 'tpin List'' <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
> Subject: [TPIN] Involuntarily shaking chops
> 
> Have any of you learned teachers out there come across the phenomenon of
> lips that shake involuntarily while playing the trumpet? This isn't
> associated with nerves or performance anxiety. When just playing in
> lesson or practicing, this player, especially in the lower register, has
> a persistent shaking of his lips, most noticeable, as one might suspect,
> on longer held notes.
> 
> He's also struggling with producing a consistently clean attack on most
> notes, again, more noticeable in the lower register.
> 
> We've tried different mouthpieces, worked with repeated notes to clean
> up his attack, and on free buzzing, mouthpiece buzzing, Bill Adam
> leadpipe buzzing, and long tones to address the shaking. While it's
> improved slightly, overall both problems seem to be pretty stubborn.
> 
> Has anyone run into this before, and can you offer any suggestions on
> resolving either, or both, issues? Thanks!
>