It was bound to happen

garrett901 · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:57 am Post subject: It was bound to happen

Well It happened... I passed out during a performance on Saturday at the Impulse Drum and Bugle Show. We were doing a exhibition show during a break in the performances when it happened. Last note of Your Still A Young Man. A double high "B", (which was horribly flat to begin with) then ... OUT !!! The next thing I know one of my horn line buddies was asking me if I was ok.... I was, just very embarrassed. Popped right up ( I was only on the ground for a few seconds) and got in front of the Corps and conducted our version of Bellevia !!! I've grayed out before, but never passed out. My wife told me that she forbids me to play high anymore... I compromised and said, I'll never play that song again...

I wonder how long it will take for one of my buddies to post that on you-tube ???

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groovinhigher · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:13 am Post subject:

Usually on something like that, rare though they are, it was simply you hyper ventilated, happens in a few types of situations, body not prepared or warmed up to the stress if you jump to it cold, or too big of a breath can do it too, whereas a medium breath often is all you need, or sometimes diet, i.e. you did not eat that day, or dehydrated, or both, hungry, feeling weak, and or any or all of these in combination with simply blowing too hard.

While you should always check out any health issue possible with your doctor and have regular physicals, bring this up soon as you can see your doctor, likely it was one of the above mentioned items or a combination of some of those.

Eat right, hydrate, get enough rest, make sure you are in condition to play up there at that moment, and don't overblow or take too big of a breath in, more of a medium breath, and don't lock your knees back hard for long periods of time, that can cause people to pass out, ask anyone who has been in a military band and seen people pass out on the parade field... usually, if you are capable of playing up there, all these things can help... I have heard you, you can play up there.

Stan Mark sent a video like that into America's Funniest Videos of a similar fate and won the dough, so you never know, lol.

Get yourself checked out but likely it was just one of the above items or a combination.
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veery715 · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:06 am Post subject:

In MacArthur Park, a tune famous for high note playing opportunities, there is a line: "I'll never have that recipe again..". Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with a cake left out in the rain.

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INTJ · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:25 am Post subject:

According to Dr Dave, and a couple other MDs who post here, this is caused by too much air pressure. The pressure restricts return blood flow to the heart, which reduces what the heart can pump to the brain. The way to fix that is to breathe more frequently, as the act of taking a breat relieves the pressure. I know this approach has worked for me.
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bach_again · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:53 am Post subject:

I feel your pain buddy... I face planted quite hard doing something similar (though not as manly regarding the range!). My buddy saved my trumpet, but I fell on my flugel and cost myself $300 in repairs.
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Fleebat · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:05 am Post subject:

I assume you mean "You're Still A Young Man."

Call it nitpicking if you want, but that's really the equivalent of playing a wrong note & thinking it's no big deal.

Speaking of which, can anyone explain to me - and I'm serious here - why one would rather play a "horribly flat" super-high note instead of one an octave lower or somewhere else in the chord that he could actually pull off & play musically? Proving manhood? Physical challenge more important than musical considerations? In 40 years of playing, many of those years as a working pro, I've never understood this.

Aside from all that, by all means don't hurt yourself! Hope you're okay.

RR

The Kraken · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:03 am Post subject:

Fleebat · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:08 am Post subject:

Happens. I'm sure my post sounded like a dig, but I honestly was trying to understand the mindset. Each of us is/was drawn to the trumpet for his own reasons, and playing really high notes wasn't on my list - but that doesn't mean it isn't valid - I just don't understand the attraction. When I do a gig or a recording session, nailing the higher stuff is almost never the most satisfying or rewarding part for me. I know a lot of people devote a huge part of their focus to it. Hmmm...

RR

garrett901 · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject:

Yea... It was horribly flat because I was Out cold and didn't even know it.... Everything is fine, no horn or body damage... I think Rich hit the nail on the head. We had been rehearsing all morning long in the heat (100 +) and I was doing most of the conducting so I wasn't actually playing much. Sort of came into it cold. Lack of hydration probably played the biggest part. A DH "B" normally is not too difficult a note for me to play, I actually only remember attacking it, then nothing... All last year in our version of Malaga I ended my solo with a 12 count DH "B" playing it one handed... For effect

Either way, I'm healthy, strong and undamaged in any way. Well, as so much as physical damage goes. I am a horn player, so the mental part is always in question

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Playing "G" Soprano Bugle, Freelancers Alumni/Mini Corps
NorCal Horn Line Instructor/Musical Arranger
Kanstul G Soprano (Powerbore Bell)
Yamaha YTR-739T
Xtream XZ w/ XXX backbore GREAT MP!!!
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INTJ · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:07 am Post subject:

Regardless of all the mitigating circumstances of heat, fatigue, etc.; the mechanim that most likely caused you to pass out was too much air pressure in the body cavity which greatly reduced the blood available for your heart to pump to your brain.
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groovinhigher · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:16 am Post subject:

INTJ · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:44 am Post subject:

Without question. The times we are most likely to overpressurize are when we are fatigued, dehydrated, nervous, tense, grumpy, etc. While the long term solution is to keep ourselves in top form physically and mentally, when we do find ourselves starting to gray out, quickly taking a breath will relieve all that pressure and prevent the blackout/passout. The only catch is you have to take that breath as soon as you start to go gray or it may be too late.
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joetrumpet2 · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:09 am Post subject:

I grayed out June 19 playing the Pines of Rome, 4th movement (Pines of the Appian Way) with a large orchestra. There was no doubt I had to stop playing, but after 2 bars (the "5tuple") I was ready and resumed. If it happens again I will remember the "breathe immediately" suggestion.

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CRJAZZMAN · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

A: Some how I would have to imagine Dave has heard a drum corps at some time in his life.

B: For me personally, playing outdoor in July or August dramatically increases the possibility of graying out. It's only happened to me twice as an adult, both times performing outside in the summer playing above high C. Once on a Kenton ballad and once on Coconut Champange.
I recovered by stopping and breathing deeply but had already missed the line in the Kenton chart.

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Fleebat · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject:

Sorry, there are some of us who, it seems, will never see what stomping around in a pasture and playing music have to do with each other. Each is a fine thing to do on its own, I'm sure; but mixing them is kinda goofy. Well... I guess you do you get to wear those stylish outfits that look like an 18th-century military uniform modified by Helen Keller.

RR