Pardon my ignorance. Can you explain what this medical issue is and how it affects your playing?
It is an issue where the nerve signals are not processed properly. A few years ago, I participated in a study run by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. On day one, my brain was mapped during an hour or so MRI. The following day, my head and hands were zapped with electricity..thankfully without the need to puncture your skin like an EMG. What was determined in my case was that the nerve signals had no trouble "stopping" Like a car with bad brakes.
Generally dystonia can develop in musician's who are more kinesthetic as opposed to cerebral players. Also i can be triggered by a minor injury, excessive practice or a change of instrument. Even though I have a very good grasp of music theory and I know what to play over a V7(b13) I never started a solo with chord scales mapped out, I always reacted to the musical situation around me. So that clicks the kinesthetic box.
After a gig with Navy Band Newport, my hand got caught in the van door while we were getting reading to leave the gig. I broke two fingers on my left hand and could not play. I was the lead tenor player in the big band, and someone had to take my spot. By the time I was ready to come back, someone in the band transferred, I was asked to play alto. I tried to practice as much as I could, but I was still having issues. The band director thought I could play bari and keep it on the stand. I tried more practicing, but things never got better. So that checks of the minor injury, change of instrument and excessive practice boxes.
