I started playing flute in 6th grade, (now a Senior in high school) but didn't really care for the band environment much until this year, when i got switched to sousaphone (big change, i know!) for marching season and I realized: I missed my flute!
Now that marching is over and I'm back on flute for concert, I've noted several things: tone is MUCH better, notes more responsive, and breath support is a TON better (can hold mid-register ntoes for about 40 seconds on one breath rather than 10-15 before)!
Earlier last week, i began coughing. Relentlessly. I can't even play one octave up of a Bb scale before i get another attack. It began to hurt to breathe. I've been diagnosed as having Acute Bronchitis and was told that i can continue to play flute, but to stop when it starts to hurt. Thing is, after six or seven quarter notes, it starts hurting. Really, really, really bad. As if i was getting a bearhug from a Strongman.
Any tips on how to hold off the pain? Or should i just give my lungs a break until this clears up? The doctor told me that this could take anywhere form another two weeks, up to seven (!) weeks. This is NOT good, as we have a christmas concert in mid december and we are planning on playing Grade 4 pieces, when I'm used to playing 2s, and on a blue moon a 3. (New director has rather high expectations of us...) I need as much practice as I can get...
Help! I've developed Bronchitits!
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Re: Help! I've developed Bronchitits!
Hiroitt,
Hopefully some of the members can give you some practice advise but I would suggest that you do not "hold off the pain"
Pain is a warning symptom - it means "stop what you are doing"
Its quite easy to to inflict more damage by trying to work through the pain
Sounds like you've been working hard, it will pay off, but why not take a break and rest when you need it so you'll be in decent shape for the performance?
You know its possible to practice without blowing; fingering, memory, reading are are a huge part of practice.
Good luck!
Hopefully some of the members can give you some practice advise but I would suggest that you do not "hold off the pain"
Pain is a warning symptom - it means "stop what you are doing"
Its quite easy to to inflict more damage by trying to work through the pain
Sounds like you've been working hard, it will pay off, but why not take a break and rest when you need it so you'll be in decent shape for the performance?
You know its possible to practice without blowing; fingering, memory, reading are are a huge part of practice.
Good luck!
Re: Help! I've developed Bronchitits!
I don't know if there are coincidences in things like this one, but here I go...
I just read about a coloring substance that is present in many processed food and liquids. It's the TARTRAZINE, often called the "Yellow 5". It's proven that it causes alergic reactions (Bonchitis included) to sensitive people (about 3,5% of the population).
Maybe it's your case. Take a closer look at it and maybe you get better just avoiding this kind of food.
Good luck
I just read about a coloring substance that is present in many processed food and liquids. It's the TARTRAZINE, often called the "Yellow 5". It's proven that it causes alergic reactions (Bonchitis included) to sensitive people (about 3,5% of the population).
Maybe it's your case. Take a closer look at it and maybe you get better just avoiding this kind of food.
Good luck
-
fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: Help! I've developed Bronchitits!
Having just recovered from bronchitis myself about two weeks ago here's all I can recommend:
Take your meds religiously.
Drink lots of water/milk/juice.
Take Mucinex DM... the big ones.
Put a humidifier in your room at night.
Essentially what is going on is that you have an infection in your airway. Increasing your fluid intake along with humidifying your environment will make the infection more... yucky. But the mucinex is an expectorant. It will also help loosen up all of this stuff. Do not avoid coughing during this time. Keep a bowl handy. When you cough, yuck will come up. Dispose of the gunk into the bowl.
And in the mean time... don't stress about it. You're just in high school. It's not like you're playing Carnegie Hall tomorrow or the Met. It's okay to get sick. While a High School Holiday concert is a ton of fun, it's not the biggest deal in the world. You'll have more concerts (especially if you do music in any capacity in college whether as a major or for fun), so don't worry about it. Calm down. Rest. Heal. Get over it. Move on.
Take your meds religiously.
Drink lots of water/milk/juice.
Take Mucinex DM... the big ones.
Put a humidifier in your room at night.
Essentially what is going on is that you have an infection in your airway. Increasing your fluid intake along with humidifying your environment will make the infection more... yucky. But the mucinex is an expectorant. It will also help loosen up all of this stuff. Do not avoid coughing during this time. Keep a bowl handy. When you cough, yuck will come up. Dispose of the gunk into the bowl.
And in the mean time... don't stress about it. You're just in high school. It's not like you're playing Carnegie Hall tomorrow or the Met. It's okay to get sick. While a High School Holiday concert is a ton of fun, it's not the biggest deal in the world. You'll have more concerts (especially if you do music in any capacity in college whether as a major or for fun), so don't worry about it. Calm down. Rest. Heal. Get over it. Move on.