next »

[Jvera95]

i noticed that at a rehearsal a month ago i had a random muscle spasm on my left arm while playing then my whole arm was numb for about 30 min.this was during a whole day of rehearsing, was it due to stress on my arm over a long period? I play a yamaha xeno tenor with an f attachment.

[BGuttman]

Make sure you are holding the horn properly.  If you aren't careful you can damage nerves in your left hand and arm and that numbness will come back again and again.  Have your teacher (if you have one) examine how you are holding the horn.

One instance may be a fluke, but if it happens again, seriously consider some kind of grip accessory ranging from a Clebsch Strap through a Bullet Brace or maybe even an Ergo-Bone.

[Eastcheap]

Make sure you are holding the horn properly.  If you aren't careful you can damage nerves in your left hand and arm and that numbness will come back again and again.  Have your teacher (if you have one) examine how you are holding the horn.

Absolutely.  In particular, make sure that there's as little weight and strain as possible between your thumb and index finger.  The medial nerve (the infamous carpal tunnel nerve) branches off there (you can easily find it by pinching the fleshy part of the web of your thumb) and you don't want any damage or inflammation there.

Also, since it's your whole arm, give some thought to your posture.  Don't hunch over as you play, but get your butt forward, back straight, shoulders square, and elbows up.  Just like they drilled into you in grade school.  (Do teachers still do that?)  You might have to build up a little more strength in your arm to hold up the horn, but it's worth it to avoid pinched nerves and arteries.

Perhaps most importantly, learn to recognize the signs of strain and fatigue and take breaks before a problem occurs.  It's real easy to get caught up in what you're doing and, before you know it, you've got muscle spasms or pins and needles or chronic carpal tunnel syndrome or something.

[WaltTrombone]

Get the horn down, out of playing position as often as you can, maybe even onto a stand for longer non-playing intervals. You might want to do some easy arm and hand stretches before and after playing. Also, realize that the horn needs to be held in position firmly, but not rigidly. Stay hydrated, too.

I find the Xeno heavy to hold up for longer periods myself, it's way heavier than my other tenors.

[TromboneMonkey]

A Greenhoe Rest bar or Edwards Bullet Brace might also help, if for no other reason than "forcing" correct holding position.

[Jvera95]

Thanks this helps

[Jvera95]

A Greenhoe Rest bar or Edwards Bullet Brace might also help, if for no other reason than "forcing" correct holding position.

My holding position is fine but yes i am in need of  support for my left arm.

[ssherwick]

Stay hydrated, too.

This is one that took me a few years to find out about, stay hydrated and keep your potassium up. The easiest way to keep your potassium up is to eat a bananna. You want to eat it before you need it so if you expect to play long hours have it before you start.

You expell a lot of fluids when you play a brass instrument. What condenses and comes out the drain valve is a small portion of what you lose.