I have no experience with this and no facts so I will speak freely, unencumbered by any knowledge - I will go with your "any help" invitation.
The problem may be dryness. If so, it might be alleviated by wetness. That could be a simple saline nasal spray or just plain old water up her nose. It could be that she has been playing in a low humidity environment lately - winter can do that. Maybe she plays in a dusty environment. Maybe she breathes more through her nose when she plays, so as to leave her mouthpiece in place. The decongestant working at the solo contest doesn't imply that she needs a decongestant. Maybe water would have worked as well, or maybe she didn't need anything, if the solo contest happened in a humid environment. Maybe something about her playing - pressure? - affects the blood supply to her nose. Maybe she is reacting to some chemistry - the aroma from a new valve oil? I just found out (for the 2nd time) that I cannot use cinnamon mouthwash or cinnamon toothpaste - major mucous membrane disaster. Maybe there is some new chemistry at home - furniture polish, soap, perfume, somebody smoking, et al. Maybe she is beginning adolescence and her body chemistry is changing. I am out of maybes. David G. On 3/15/2010 6:07 PM, Leslie the big huge nerd wrote: > Greetings listserv, > I am a band director in a very small school, so I have the "privilege" of > teaching 5-12 band. I get students for eight years, and have really enjoyed > it. Anyways, I've got a horn player who has been playing for 3 years, and > has great potential. In the past 2 two months, while playing for more than 5 > minutes at a time, she complains about a sort of "crunching sound" in her > nose, and can't play anymore. Last week, we went to solo contest, so we had > her try a decongestant, and it seemed to work. I don't want to give her > drugs every time she plays, and it's frustrating both of us to the extreme. > Has anyone had these issues? What have you done? Any help is appreciated. > Thanks! > > Leslie Twite > 5-12 Instrumental Music Director > Adair-Casey CSD > Adair, IA > > > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/goldberg%40wccnet.org > _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
