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Forums :: General Discussion

Harmonica Health Hazards? Harmonica hoarseness?

1 reply [Last post]
Mon, 06/14/2010 - 15:27
marcos
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Teacher 9Level 10
Joined: 01/11/2010

My day job as a family physician causes me to look at a lot of things from a certain perspective.
I've seen some literature about the possible healthful benefits of harmonica playing, and I have no doubt that there are salutory effects. I can personally attest to some (physically and mentally).

But I'd be interested in a non-scientific study of harmonica-related (or suspected harmonica-related) illnesses, injuries, and conditions.

I'm thinking of the obvious (sore lips, canker sores, Herpes infections) and the not-so-obvious (anyone ever aspirated a piece of reed, or a piece of pocket lint, or a piece of last night's supper?). Anyone care to share? (Harmonicoccus hohnerus not having been definitively isolated in the laboratory, I'll defer making any conclusions about potential infections for now).

I have personally noted an interesting phenomenon. Since my practice time is often feast or famine, I sometimes find myself spending several hours cranking away on one of David's lessons when I have the time available. On a couple of occasions, after doing so I have noticed significant hoarseness the next day. My theory is that prolonged practice involving the negative pressure induced in the throat by drawing, especially when a lot of tremolo/vibrato is being practiced, induces edema in the vocal cords that causes hoarseness.
I'd be very interested in hearing if anyone else has had a similar experience. I might even write a paper!

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Mon, 06/14/2010 - 21:48
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Comment

Interesting observation. Some students will get a sore tongue, at the tip, if they push too hard when first learning how to tongue block. Some will get muscle soreness in their tongue when learning how to bend, as well as their neck, if they're tensing all of the muscles. Bending doesn't take any muscle, but it's hard to say relax when you're trying hard to do something new! ;-) I can see your throat getting a little sore from practicing tremolo a lot. As your throat muscles learn how to fire without tension that will go away.

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