Wind players and pregnancy

I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?


I'm not a professional performer - I majored in composition but trumpet is
my first instrument and I teach a few other wind instruments as well.
I don't know about other people, but my expereience has not so much been
breathlessness but the fact that my diaphragm can no longer support my notes
and I've lost control of the steadiness. I can't push the notes out like I
could before and I struggle with playing for any length of time. I think
just because it is more work I probably get out of breath so maybe that's
where that part comes in for me.
This has only been my personal experience though - and I must say that while
I've played and been a musician for almost 20 years (wow that makes me sound
old - I'm not really!!) I haven't practised everyday so perhaps my tummy
muscles were not as strong to begin with as yours would be.

Hope this helps

wrote:
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?

Yes, you can do it, but you will need to plan
more time to warm up. You will probably lose a little
bit of capacity, but a good friend played the Prokofiev
flute concerto on her due date. If a flute player can
do it, a sax player can do it.

Best wishes,
Ericka

wrote:
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?

There's definitely an increased shortness of breath, but playing a
typical concert shouldn't be too hard. It's a gradual growth, so you
have time to adjust, and I did have to change how I sat to open up my
lungs more.

Michelle
Flutist

"Michelle J. Haines" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?

There's definitely an increased shortness of breath, but playing a typical
concert shouldn't be too hard. It's a gradual growth, so you have time
to adjust, and I did have to change how I sat to open up my lungs more.

I was waiting for you to respond. I thought, OMG, Michelle's sig line is
on-topic. It cracked me up.

--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

"Dave {Reply Address in.Sig}" wrote in message
...
In message , Ericka Kammerer wrote:

wrote:
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?

Yes, you can do it, but you will need to plan
more time to warm up. You will probably lose a little
bit of capacity, but a good friend played the Prokofiev
flute concerto on her due date. If a flute player can
do it, a sax player can do it.

I thought that lots of sax around the due date was helpful in encouraging
the start of labour...
--
boom boom!




Dave
mail da (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org/
So many gadgets, so little time...

"Linda" wrote in message ...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?


I'm not a professional performer - I majored in composition but trumpet is
my first instrument and I teach a few other wind instruments as well.


You rock! I also play trumpet, wanted to major in music education but wound
up in accounting... I still love to play, but haven't for about a year. I
need to find a local ensemble to play with.

I don't know about other people, but my expereience has not so much been
breathlessness but the fact that my diaphragm can no longer support my
notes and I've lost control of the steadiness. I can't push the notes out
like I could before and I struggle with playing for any length of time.

The high notes for me were much more difficult to hit, and maintaining a
steady tone got increasingly difficult in my last pregnancy. I did find
longer notes harder to hold as well.

Betsy

Mum of Two wrote:
"Michelle J. Haines" wrote in message
...

There's definitely an increased shortness of breath, but playing a typical
concert shouldn't be too hard. It's a gradual growth, so you have time
to adjust, and I did have to change how I sat to open up my lungs more.


I was waiting for you to respond. I thought, OMG, Michelle's sig line is
on-topic. It cracked me up.

Thppppppppppppppppppt

Michelle
Flutist

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...

"Linda" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am a Master's student in classical saxophone performance. My husband
and I would like to start a family soon, but if I were pregnant, what
effect would that have on my performance? I am concerned by what I
have heard about symptoms of breathlessness - could I still make it
through a couple concerti in a single evening? Are there any classical
wind players out there who could give me an idea of what to expect?


I'm not a professional performer - I majored in composition but trumpet
is my first instrument and I teach a few other wind instruments as well.


You rock! I also play trumpet, wanted to major in music education but
wound up in accounting... I still love to play, but haven't for about a
year. I need to find a local ensemble to play with.

Thanks (Blush) - I would imagine accounting is more reliable for making an
income than composition - my parents couldn't understand why I didn't want
to do something conventional like nursing!!
Feel like coming to Australia every Monday night? I'm the director of a
community Jazz band and we could always do with more trumpets ; )


I don't know about other people, but my expereience has not so much been
breathlessness but the fact that my diaphragm can no longer support my
notes and I've lost control of the steadiness. I can't push the notes
out like I could before and I struggle with playing for any length of
time.

The high notes for me were much more difficult to hit, and maintaining a
steady tone got increasingly difficult in my last pregnancy. I did find
longer notes harder to hold as well.

Betsy