I'm a highschool student who has played flute since 5th grade. Until recently my flute playing has physically been fine. Although now I'm beginning to notice that after I'm done practicing my throat and chest will feel tight, and I have to just stop for a moment and just concentrate on getting air in and out. I'm asthmatic and so I wouldn't be surprised if that has anything to do with. I've also had pneumonia in the past so who knows what damage that did to my lungs, but I read that flute is supposed to help asthma symptoms. I'm thinking of putting my flute away and going full time to my oboe. But I was just curious what y'all thought. And if any of y'all have experienced this. |
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Haven't experienced it, except when playing in front of others who are smoking
Is your asthma stable? Sounds like the breathing is irritating something in your air column. Maybe if you check it with your doctor, - it might just be irritation from expanding the air column in a synchronised way, whereas the reed playing of the oboe uses more isometric breathing, but best be safe and check it out in case you have one of those awful atypical pneumonias. I had one and couldn't stop coughing :/
I play the clarinet too - maybe if you don't have the problem on the oboe, since reed instruments need a lot of pressure, it's the rapid movement shifts of air which the flute playing uses which might irritate and make your chest/throat time. The world needs more oboe players anyway, so go on and give up the flute.
I used to just use the inhalers when I had the same issue as you, but it was worse around pets/dusty places to play. Getting rid of nickel silver plates/dusty swab/the pet cat and linseed oil if you use it, might help but it's a process of elimination.
You could try changing your playing time. If you're worse in the morning for the tightness than the evening, then it might be worth trying a few shots of your ventolin before playing. My peak flow in the mornings used to be awful. The worse thing is, I'm a middle distance runner, and nobody would believe me that I had asthma. They acted like I was some kind of !****! or completely unfit.
See your doctor or ask him to refer you the respiratory clinic in hospital for a check up. Changing the treatment or excluding any unresolved infection might help.
Good luck.
