Sleep apnea – What they don’t tell you! (Part 5)

#1 Complaint- Dry mouth After visiting with other sufferers of Sleep Apnea, the most consistent complaint seemed to be dry mouth. The dryness in my mouth each morning was so severe that I eventually developed a lesion in the back of my throat which progressed into a serious problem. After several visits to an eyes, nose, throat specialist, I decided that the bleeding was caused from the excessive dryness brought on by the BiPap therapy. I mentioned that this was my decision because the specialist, after two exploratory excursions through my nose and throat, could not determine why I was…

Sleep apnea – What they don’t tell you! (Part 4)

Setting up the equipment The next step after gleaning this useless information was to receive your own machine which will solve all of your Sleep Apnea problems. My first question at that time was, “How can an involuntary action (apnea episodes) be retrained to become voluntary actions”? I was assured that it can be done and to my surprise it was done in my case. After regular usage of the BiPap/C-Pap machine I was eventually retrained to a normal non-obstructed breathing condition. Because my condition was diagnosed as extreme Sleep Apnea, it was decided that a Bipap (BPAP is a…

Sleep apnea – What they don’t tell you! (Part 3)

Results not accurate My experience during my sleep test can only be described as exceedingly uncomfortable. Throughout the night, I was forcibly ventilated through the mask covering my mouth and nose. Repeatedly I was told that it would eventually normalize to my natural breathing pattern but unfortunately it never did. Throughout the night I as forced to inhale more air, more frequently than I am accustom which obviously had an impact on my readings. Most of my so-called apnea episodes were reactions from this extremely uncomfortable sleeping condition. I repeatedly told my tech of the problem and was repeatedly told…

Sleep apnea – What they don’t tell you! (Part 2)

Testing Begins Once your physician suspects you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea, you are sent to a specialist who will isolate you in a small chamber to evaluate your breathing patterns in order to assign settings for your next level of testing. This next procedure is to simulate your normal breathing history during actual overnight sleeping conditions. This procedure is called the sleep test. You are told that you will spend the night in the test area while measuring your sleeping habits in order to determine the severity of your condition. After checking in, you are told to dress…

Sleep apnea – What they don’t tell you! (Part 1)

For those not familiar with this condition, read the following- Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and can occur many times during the night. The three main types of sleep apnea are: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common form of sleep apnea. It occurs when the muscles in the throat relax excessively during sleep, causing the airway to become partially or completely blocked. This obstruction leads to snoring, choking, or gasping for air as the individual struggles…

Trumpet High Range Development- Part 3….. “What Method Books Have the Secrets to High Note Playing”?

First of all, if these books have all the secrets, they are no longer secrets. Now down to facts. All high range methods are based on known features and how these features differ will explain why some techniques work and some don’t. I will discuss general categories which will help to explain the theory and application of these different approaches.   Pedal Tones and how they work. Many methods utilize the practice and effects of pedal tones when trying to increase one’s high note range. Pedal tones include all notes played below the normal limitations of the instrument; any note…

Trumpet High Range Development

One of the most sought-after areas for trumpet playing is the secret to playing high notes with ease. The ability to perform in the altissimo register has been a challenge from the beginning of time. Screech trumpet players today are placed on a more elevated level than those with advanced technical abilities or even the most gifted player with the best tone. If one would visit most trumpet bulletin boards today, the most popular question is “How can I play high notes easier”? Small fortunes have been made by authors and publishing companies after flooding the market with many “easy…

THE 2024-2025 KING’S BRASS AUDITIONS

If you have not heard this talented brass ensemble, where have you been for the past 50 years? This is the ensemble that got me started thinking of trumpet ensembles. Tim Zimmerman was the first person who inspired me to pursue an active interest in trumpet ensemble music. The Kings Brass was the first ensemble to demonstrate what could be done with our chosen instrument. There would not have been a Branson Trumpet Ensemble if it weren’t for Mr. Zimmerman support in our early years in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The amount of dedication Mr. Zimmerman has given to great brass…

How to Teach for 30 Years and Still Retain Your Sanity- Example #3

This morning was spent recalling incidents while teaching at the University of Northern Iowa where I was employed from 1969 until taking early retirement in the year 2000. Some memories stand out as positive moments and others as less than productive circumstances. It is the purpose in this document to illustrate to the younger and less experienced leaders in the field of education just how to keep ones focus while dealing with the everyday problems which unfortunately come with the job. Example 3. As I have stated before, two of my former heads of our department were, shall we say,…

How to Teach for 30 Years and Still Retain Your Sanity- Example #2

This morning was spent recalling incidents while teaching at the University of Northern Iowa where I was employed from 1969 until taking early retirement in the year 2000. Some memories stand out as positive moments and others as less than productive circumstances. It is the purpose in this document to illustrate to the younger and less experienced leaders in the field of education just how to keep ones focus while dealing with the everyday problems which unfortunately come with the job. Example 2. “Sometimes you just have to stir up the water” I have worked for five directors of our…