One of the principal fears that many musicians have is to suddenly discover that they can no longer physically play their chosen instrument. Whilst the majority will never have to suffer this scenario, and can safely place their fears in the realm of unnecessary paranoia, for up to 5% of the musical population, it is an actual reality. After many years of playing, the guitarist can no longer hold the strings down on the fret when playing a particular solo, the trombonist finds it impossible to form a perfect embouchure, the pianist finds that her fingers in one or both hands start inexplicable curling outwards, the drummer can no longer hold a stick in his hand when attempting a simple buzz role. It can be a gradual deterioration or a sudden occurrence. However it manifests itself, the results are always the same: stress, anxiety, panic and desperation.
The most common cause is a condition known as Focal Dystonia, which is broadly defined as a neurological disorder that affects a muscle or group of muscles in a part of the body, causing involuntary contraction or twisting. It is generally task-specific and manifests itself as a loss of voluntary motor control in extensively trained movements. This means that the musician may be able to continue to play certain pieces without difficulty, but discovers that a particular piece of music that was once easy to play has now become an impossibility. In extreme cases, the musician can no longer play any piece of music and simply retires from the profession. Some devote years adapting their playing. New Age guitarist Billy McLaughlin, as a result of contracting Focal Dystonia, taught himself to play left-handed. The pianist Gary Graffman performs exclusively with his left hand. Others, such as Warren Deck, former principal tuba player of the New York Philharmonic and guitarist Liona Boyd have abandoned their careers entirely.
Most of the information available on Focal Dystonia makes depressing reading. The general consensus is that there is no cure. There are treatments available, such as Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injections which target specific symptoms of the affliction but are not effective as an overall cure. We at the North London Stress Management Centre (NLSMC) emphatically disagree with the “no cure” argument and instead look to others who have successfully overcome, and have taught many musicians to overcome, what we believe to be an emotional, psychological and therefore completely curable condition.
Dr Joaquin Fabra, a musician and teacher based in Madrid, is a leading expert in Embouchure Dystonia. For many years he has successfully treated sufferers by getting them to look at their condition not as musicians but as individuals. His central argument is that brass/wind players are affected as a consequence of a progressive and unnoticed shift of their daily practise, and hence their emotional behaviour associated with it. Put simply, the condition is caused by tension arising from negative emotions which are creating the involuntary muscle spasms. These emotions come from trying not to play the instrument wrong rather than concentrating on playing the instrument right. He defines emotions as neuro-chemical events that are created by thoughts that we are having at any given moment. Emotions, as the vehicle of thoughts, in turn create a particular physical feeling or sensation.
Therefore, negative emotions caused by a specific event or sequence of events lie in wait and trigger the onset of the condition. Dr Fabra cites himself as an example. After years as a successful musician he decided to visit a particular teacher with the view of expanding his technique. The teacher was an absolute disaster, who over a period of less than a week, destroyed Dr Fabra’s confidence in his musical ability. This triggered the Embouchure Dystonia which he then suffered for an extended period of time before he realised that it was actually his emotions that were damaged – not his skill as a musician.
Overcoming Focal Dystonia can be a difficult process. The general consensus of those who subscribe to the theory of emotional recovery is that musicians affected by the condition will have to work hard to re-establish the right psychological patterns responsible and that tenacious willpower and systematic work will be needed to get results.
We at NLSMC, whilst agreeing that the process is by no means easy and that hard work and commitment will be required, differ in terms of timescales and application for treating Focal Dystonia. Our belief is that with the combined application of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, afflicted musicians will see substantial improvements in their condition in a much shorter period than if they adopted a purely talking-psychological approach. We have helped musicians look for the real trigger of their condition, which in most cases is not the particular happening or incident that they themselves identify when they first visit us. We teach them successful coping mechanisms and techniques to alleviate the condition as quickly as possible.
We fully understand the devastation that Focal Dystonia can cause musicians. Equally, we know we can be effective in helping them on the road to recovery.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN INITIAL CONSULTATION PLEASE CALL 020 8444 4871 OR EMAIL: info@londonstressmanagement.com
