I am (was) a flutist; I have embouchure dystonia. Now thanks to this forum and a great website http://www.embouchuredystonia.com, at least I know there is a proper diagnosis, something that could perhaps be more controlled than aging, something less my fault than lack of practice.I had played the flute for 30 years before I started having problems. (It all began with a couple of transient incidents of embouchure failure.) I have been struggling with varying results, trying to relax, finding teachers, changing flutes, etc., etc., since about 1990.
My playing remains very tense and painful (tone usually fuzzy with twitching, drooling, and other annoying reactions) unless I very very occasionally “fall into a space” where it feels just like it used to. (My hand technique and sight-reading have actually improved so it’s even more frustrating not to be able to produce a decent tone.)
I was hoping to be able to play the flute all my life; this is a huge loss and I am very saddened by it. I also play saxophone (mainly bari to preserve what flute chops I have) and recorders. But it’s not the same as catching that silver stream of beautiful sound that is flauto traverso (aka perverso)…
Any correspondence and/or suggestions would be much appreciated. I would be open to trying acupuncture or other alternative therapies, medication, meditation, anything.
Thanks very much.
Linnea Co (Washington State)
