In 2011, I suffered a deliberating overuse injury that nearly cost me my career. In the five months following this injury, I was unable to use and control my right hand and had suffered more than a dozen injuries and conditions including a torn thumb ligament, inflammation and nerve restriction, myofascial trigger point syndrome, tendinitis, muscle sprain and atrophy, and muscle loss.
Although I was unable to play the clarinet, I was able to carefully look at the behaviors and patterns of my musical life that got me to the point of such serious disability. I spent an enormous amount of time researching musician injury, noting what we suffer from, how we get there, and ways we can avoid injury. In working with amazing doctors and specialists around the country I began to assemble my notes and research and apply what I had learned into a set of articles for publication in The Clarinet (2013, 2013, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and a separate article in the SAI Pan Pipes (2017).
In addition to these publications, I have assembled lectures and presentations for various clinics, workshops and conferences including a talk for the U.S. Navy Band’s Clarinet Day at the invitation of Laura Grantier, for the NACWPI and ICA conferences, for Flute and Clarinet Day at UTRGV and Single Reed Day at SLU, as well as for a great number of universities, student organizations and music events.
If you would like to arrange an informal talk or a formal presentation for your university or event please contact me to schedule.
