Reprogramming your ‘sat nav’

Brass players, including those at the top of their professional tree, have experienced Focal Dystonia that has either permanently or temporarily halted playing. Marcus Reynolds is a ‘pro’ player who overcame the challenge and here offers his personal perspective about recovery

I was inspired to write this for several reasons, not the least of which was an accident when I fell from a stage, which badly damaged my lip. My resultant anxiety about how I was going to play again and continue to make a living led to my own experience of Focal Dystonia (FD). I am once again playing ‘pro’, but it has been a struggle, during which I have learned much about FD and embouchure problems along the way, which I’d like to share with other brass players and teachers.

Dystonia is uncontrollable muscle spasms caused by faulty signals from the brain. Focal refers to a condition affecting a precise area of the body, such as the lips and muscles supporting the embouchure. Experiencing FD is a bit like dealing with a ‘sat nav’ that can’t understand that your route is blocked. Progress cannot be made, frustration mounts, only aggravating the situation. The ‘sat nav’ may even need to be turned off and the driver resort to basics (eyes and a map!). Similarly, the FD sufferer returns to basics, or in medical terms the brain’s cortical map needs untangling…

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