Musician’s Dystonia

If you’ve found this website, chances are that you’re a musician that has been experiencing some strange symptoms recently.

Perhaps your fingers are curling when you’re finger-picking on a guitar.

Maybe your embouchure has ‘forgotten’ how to play in a certain register on a brass instrument.

Could it be that you’re struggling to control the movement of your sticks when drumming?

Are your muscles just not responding as you want them to when trying to play your instrument?

Musician’s Focal Dystonia: a common condition

If this is the case, you’ve probably either received a diagnosis of Task-Specific Focal Dystonia from a neurologist, or, you’ve done some googling and found articles and videos online about other musicians with this mysterious condition – a disorder experienced by a large number of musicians around the world. It is estimated that approximately 1% of all professional musicians will experience focal dystonia at some point in their careers.

In 2005, after having experienced a complete loss of control in my embouchure when trumpet playing, I visited several specialists including dentists, physiotherapists and neurologists. I was told quite simply: “You have focal dystonia. There is no cure.”

Thankfully however, there has been an awakening among many musicians and even some members of the medical profession in recent years. It turns out that Musician’s Focal Dystonia is a condition which can be resolved!

I spent 5 years developing a method which helped me overcome Musician’s Focal Dystonia. I play more easily and freely now than before my episode with MFD.

The purpose of this website is to offer support, advice, and rehabilitation information to fellow musicians of all instruments currently suffering with MFD.

I hope the information in these pages is helpful to you.

Respectfully,

Jon Gorrie
BMus PGdipRNCM MMus(distinction) MOrchStud FTCL PGCE