No, this is not a joke for if you have ever had it happen to you, you will agree that it is a possibility.
The high range exercises which I and several of my friends are practicing at this time may find us in a possible situation which should be addressed at this time.
Most often the dizziness and possible blackout comes shortly after releasing a sustained high note and is seldom present when performing in the middle and low range of the instrument. Some players are more susceptible to this condition than others. Also, those performing in the upper register for the first time experience this symptom.
Read more from players who are asking questions as to its cause and effect on their playing–
……”I recently began my first semester of Graduate school after taking two years off from teaching High School. I never had this problem before but now, when playing long phrases in the extreme upper register, I get really lightheaded. It really scared me because during our spring concert I nailed this lick, but at the end of it, I had to rest the next few bars or else I would’ve PASSED OUT!”
“I too experience the same problem. I’ve been told it’s from using alot of air to achieve high notes. My instructor told me not to worry about it because it’s natural.”
“It is not normal and you need to fix it before you do pass out and hurt yourself or even worse, your horn. I think this needs personal attention, not a quick internet fix. It is unhealthy body tension”.
“Sounds like you are overblowing (blowing too hard) for the high notes. This can cause the blood to drain from your head. Back off!! Players sometimes mistake blowing hard for increase in compression to play high”.
Now that you have read some players comments on the condition, I will give some opinions as to how it happens.
Young people (NOT TRUMPET PLAYERS) are bringing on this condition and have posted several videos on YouTube which actually give you the instructions on how to make yourself pass out. I will not direct you to their site for as many have warned them, “Continued practice of this exercise can be dangerous”.
One such practitioner attached this comment to the site in hopes of deterring this practice-
THESE ARE NOT TRUMPET PLAYERS
“This is bad and dangerous I did this without realizing its dangers. It’s caused by hyperventilation, orthostatic hypotension and the Vasalva manoeuvre which cause a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Now that we have given you some information on what sometimes happens to high note trumpet players, I will continue with my search for the cause of this temporary condition and report on its seriousness and ways to avoid this unfortunate and embarrassing situation.
It is a vasovagal response – vasovagal syncope if it actual results in fainting. I have become fairly knowledgeable about it, because it is the #1 occupational hazard in my lead/commercial playing, and I have been fighting it for close to a year now.
It stems from thoracic pressure impeding return blood flow to the heart. It has nothing to with the pressure in your oral cavity or neck or anything like that – it’s the pressure in the chest cavity. (Of course, they’re connected spaces)
Basically, if the heart can’t receive enough blood to pump out, it becomes starved, and then – lights out. I have been told by a couple of MDs that it’s not dangerous (other than the hazard of falling), but it is really annoying. As soon as you lose muscle tone, the pressure goes away, and the heart gets the supply it needs.
The upshot of all of this is:
1. It gets worse when dehydrated. A little less blood volume makes it even harder to get enough return flow. Fix: drink plenty of water before/during.
2. It gets worse the longer you’re standing – as blood pools in your legs, it gets harder to achieve return flow. Fix: I have been wearing compression hose, and this helps quite a bit.
3. It gets worse when it’s hot. Vasodilation near body surface makes it harder to achieve return flow (notice the pattern?). Fix: turn up the AC at the venue, wear cooler clothing, etc.
4. It gets worse when you’re nervous. Adrenaline response cranks up the flow demanded from your heart, which increases the flow that must get to your heart to be pumped – and lights out. Fix: meditation? managing nerves? performance coaching? This is, for me, the hardest to control. And, as I get more nervous about the double Bb I have to hold, my heart beats faster, which makes more return flow necessary, which makes me more prone to passing out, which makes me more nervous, which makes my heart beat faster….(sweet dreams!)
Your experience and handling of this condition is very helpful to all of us and we thank you. There is nothing in your information I have any doubt about for all players seem to have the same physical and environmental conditions to bring it on.
From my reading this week I have come to the same conclusion as you for the reason, and hopefully someone can give us more insight into ways of overriding it. Your listing of conditions which bring it on was very helpful.
Stay tuned for more information…..