I developed focal dystonia in my right hand during graduate school which of course took me out of the piano program. My second instrument is the horn and I have always approached it cautiously as at that time, the belief was that if you develop FD in one area of your body, it would most likely manifest itself in another part of your body. Now, this has been rejected but for the longest time I would not push for high notes as I didn't want this disease to take my horn away as well. I am so sorry this happened to Nicole. As I understand it, I believe the thinking now is that FD is related to Parkinson's Disease. Many thanks to the both of you for this awareness video. This condition has been getting more awareness lately because more and more secretaries/office personnel are becoming afflicted with this repeated stress injury condition, shedding more light on it than the much smaller demographic of musicians.
Great story!!! My teacher retired early from the St Louis Symphony due to focal dystonia …….. But Nikki has inspired so many young Black girls who are Horn players and brass players at large….. Thanks Nikki for your inspiration
Thank you Haley for this wonderful interview!!! I’m sad that Nicole has embouchure dystonia. She was/is a major role model for women horn players, and especially those of us who are minority. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone! Not an easy disorder to navigate, and extremely frustrating and confusing overall when it onsets. It’s like she says, it is so subtle and gradually sets and increases in lack of control within specific tasks. Then eventually overall. Thank you Nicole for sharing your story and for showing the prime example of resilience and strength throughout your journey. 🙏💕
What an inspirational conversation. Such an important thing to discuss injuries and the kinds of difficulties performers go through. And an even more important message: life is more than just the horn! Haley, id love to hear the rest of the Beethoven Sextet if it’s available for my own private consumption ;). Thanks again to you both. Cheers!
This was such a great conversation! I have heard from a lot of women that have focal dystonia that their onset came during or after pregnancy! I would love to know if the hormonal shift effects the nervous system.
Thank you for this video on awareness & culture. I recently interviewed an Australian horn player wt FD on my channel. Awareness is paramount so thank you!!
I am an amateur (very) horn player.My bite changed in the past 10 yrs to the point where I needed to do Invisalign to correct it to prevent TMJ and to keep a top tooth from hitting in a lower tooth. Needless to say the Invisalign changed may embouchure from week to week, which made it frankly painful and sometimes impossible to play. I have finished the treatment and now can try to reestablish some level of comfort with playing. My point is , our teeth do shift around a little as we age. Perhaps that has something to do with altering the embouchure and is a risk factor for the focal dystonia. Just a thought.
I developed focal dystonia in my right hand during graduate school which of course took me out of the piano program. My second instrument is the horn and I have always approached it cautiously as at that time, the belief was that if you develop FD in one area of your body, it would most likely manifest itself in another part of your body. Now, this has been rejected but for the longest time I would not push for high notes as I didn't want this disease to take my horn away as well. I am so sorry this happened to Nicole. As I understand it, I believe the thinking now is that FD is related to Parkinson's Disease. Many thanks to the both of you for this awareness video. This condition has been getting more awareness lately because more and more secretaries/office personnel are becoming afflicted with this repeated stress injury condition, shedding more light on it than the much smaller demographic of musicians.
@@ralphmiller8087 thank you for sharing this
Great story!!! My teacher retired early from the St Louis Symphony due to focal dystonia …….. But Nikki has inspired so many young Black girls who are Horn players and brass players at large….. Thanks Nikki for your inspiration
Thank you Haley for this wonderful interview!!! I’m sad that Nicole has embouchure dystonia. She was/is a major role model for women horn players, and especially those of us who are minority.
I wouldn’t wish this on anyone! Not an easy disorder to navigate, and extremely frustrating and confusing overall when it onsets. It’s like she says, it is so subtle and gradually sets and increases in lack of control within specific tasks. Then eventually overall.
Thank you Nicole for sharing your story and for showing the prime example of resilience and strength throughout your journey. 🙏💕
As another horn player who developed dystonia, this is just so accurate.
I really thought she was gonna be the next principal horn of the Chicago Symphony! I hate this happened to her.
What an inspirational conversation. Such an important thing to discuss injuries and the kinds of difficulties performers go through. And an even more important message: life is more than just the horn! Haley, id love to hear the rest of the Beethoven Sextet if it’s available for my own private consumption ;). Thanks again to you both. Cheers!
This was such a great conversation! I have heard from a lot of women that have focal dystonia that their onset came during or after pregnancy! I would love to know if the hormonal shift effects the nervous system.
Great conversation and video. Thank you both!
Thank you for this video on awareness & culture. I recently interviewed an Australian horn player wt FD on my channel. Awareness is paramount so thank you!!
Thanks for this interview.
I am an amateur (very) horn player.My bite changed in the past 10 yrs to the point where I needed to do Invisalign to correct it to prevent TMJ and to keep a top tooth from hitting in a lower tooth. Needless to say the Invisalign changed may embouchure from week to week, which made it frankly painful and sometimes impossible to play. I have finished the treatment and now can try to reestablish some level of comfort with playing.
My point is , our teeth do shift around a little as we age. Perhaps that has something to do with altering the embouchure and is a risk factor for the focal dystonia.
Just a thought.
A wonderful conversation. I'm curious what 'the path' is now.
The Harmonic Series