Re: Somewhat OT/ Anita-Classical music,

[Guest guest]

Hi Anita and Adam,

Just to chime in on the musician/music as therapy discussion. Many

years ago (40 to be exact) I was a piano major at a conservatory,

though looking back have no idea how I finished my degree, given

that I had active disease even then and not a clue as to what was

wrong. I remember standing in oratorio rehearsals, unable to hold up

the score. Piano recitals were a big problem if I had to perform

longer than 10-15 minutes. In practice I could take breaks and pace

myself to extend playing time, but not on the stage. By special

edict, the dean allowed me to give half a senior recital, and even

that half was divided by a string quartet interlude. When I had to

give up piano, I eventually found a way to make music with words and

became a writer. At this point I can't write much anymore, but I

still put " writer " under occupation on medical forms. I do listen a

lot to music, and usually the effects are healing, though sometimes

music stirs up memories of performing and reminds me of the losses.

One of the things I had wanted very much to do as a writer was to

research and write about music therapy and its application to

disease and healing. Fascinating subject.

Anita, if you have not read " Limbo: A Memoir " by A. Manette Ansay, I

would highly recommend it. This is a wonderfully written book about

a gifted Carnegie-Mellon student who had always planned to be a

concert pianist and instead became a writer after she developed a

mysterious muscle disease similar to MS. Not your usual sentimental

disability story, Ansay has lyric instincts and offers startling

insights.

Take care,

Barbara

> Hi Anita,

>

> I wouldn't call you an oddity...I would call you a rarity and a

marvel!

> A unique innovator to figure a way to keep playing. :-) I am

so glad to

> know that you have also improved from where you were and that you

are still

> able to play and manage a schedule that allows you to rest. You

are the first

> oboist that I know. [g] Lincoln Center has quite a reputation

for excellence,

> you must be a very good musician!

>

> Great list of supplements that you take. I am having lots of

problems with

> my digestive tract and manage some supplements but too many start

causing

> problems. I have tried a number of times to get my PCP to give me

injections of

> B12/Bcomplex but they always decline. They test my B12 and since

it is in this

> very broad normal range that I think goes from like 150 to 1200mg

and mine is

> about 300 and they consider that good enough. I do try to take

B12

> sublingually but without taking a complete B, I think it can be a

problem and so far

> the B complex capsules can give me upset.

>

> You take manganese and magnesium by mouth? I would really like to

supplement

> minerals but I have read conflicting reports of the availability

in the body

> and certain forms of minerals that can cause problems that I just

have tried

> to get it in my food. I am sure I could use more of a lot of

minerals but

> haven't decided which is the best way to supplement with them. Do

you use

> chelated?

>

> It is great that you use Udo's Oil Blend. I cannot take that

right now

> either due to gallbladder problems. If it isn't one obstacle it

is

> another..lol..oh well. :-) It is a goal to get to a point where

I can tolerate more

> supplements. I have tried taking lots of things at different

times and have felt

> much better for short periods of time when I was taking lots.

Hasn't lasted long

> though before I have one problem or another and have to stop.

Thankfully I

> am tolerating the Carnitine and Q10. That is helping.

>

> As for Classical Music, what I find strange and having a hard time

warming up

> to are the titles. With all the Movements and Numbers listed,

etc, it is

> like a whole new language. With the brain and memory issues of

mito, it is hard

> enough to hold onto what you already know let alone learn anything

new...lol.

>

> There are three tracks on my CD that are my favorites:

>

> Suite Bergamasque: Third Movement Claire de Lune

> Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 " Symphony of Sorrowful Songs " : Second

Movement

> Rhapsody on a Theme of Paginini, Op. 43: Variation 18

>

> Unfortunately, it only lists Various artists as the performers of

the pieces.

> I wish I knew who the artists were. The voice of the singer on

Symphony of

> Sorrowful Songs is so wonderful. I had heard the Claire de Lune

piece and the

> Paginini Theme, but I had never heard the Symphony of sorrowful

Songs.

>

> As for Broadway shows, I grew up watching musicals on Saturday

mornings at

> our house. I love show tunes too. West Side Story, loved it,

Oklahoma was

> great. I am actually pretty eclectic. The range of music I

enjoy is very broad.

> I love some jazzy singers..Anita Baker, love big band

Swing..Benny Goodman

> and Glen MIller, some orchestras...Henry Mancini and

, some

> country Faith Hill, Judy , lots of popular..Sinatra etc.,

The divas,

> Streisand, Celine et al, along with rock Clapton, oldies,

but not RAP and most

> acid heavy metal music, I can tolerate some for the sake of

friends, [g], but

> less and less so. I could go on and on with artists that I am

leaving out. I

> think that basically I love music and anything that is very well

done.

>

> What were you listening to for pleasure when you were listening?

Mostly

> classical?

>

> As far as my experimenting goes, I think I have improved as much

as I can for

> now. I would be happy to be able to tolerate listening to music

for 2 -30

> minute periods of time almost every day for awhile. Of course, it

is easier the

> more I am rested and feeling good. I won't try to go further

until I can

> gain some ground with more supplementation and get my gallbladder

problem taken

> care of first so I can start adding oils back in my diet. I will

look for the

> Gregorian chants though and give that a try.

>

> Well, I need to stop now. I have typed a lot longer than usual. I

haven't

> been this talkative in awhile.. lol You hit upon one of my two

passionate

> topics...music and gardening. So now you are forewarned. :-)

>

>

> Nice talking to you..

> Adam

>

>

> In a message dated 5/13/2004 8:49:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> writes:

>

> > Hi Adam, So nice to hear from you. I like hearing about your

> > experiments with music and am so glad you've gotten a little

> > more tolerant to sounds. Nice that you don't have to use

subtitles

> > anymore!

> >

> > Your point is very well taken. I think people who think they

don't

> > like classical (i.e. " serious " , " art music " ) music are usually

very

> > much are surprised at how much they really are exposed to it in

> > films. Your " The Most Relaxing

> > Classical Music In the World Ever " sounds like a nice treasury

of

> > music to listen to. You sound like a very open minded person. I

> > think " Three Tenors " and " Riverdance " are great things to listen

> > to and even opera (Yup, more classical than popular) can be very

> > appealing. I think there's also some wonderful music in

> > Broadway shows.

> >

> > Let's hope you will find ways to improve your hypersensitivity

and

> > will never reach the point where you can't listen because of the

> > pain.

> >

> > My sound sensitivity have really improved quite a bit, too. For

me,

> > daily B1/B complex injections, manganese, magnesium, and

> > Yudo's Choice Oil Blend (omege 3-6-9 fatty acids) have made

> > the biggest difference. If I forget to take them, I pay the

price.

> >

> > Thanks for your kind words and concern. Yup, being a musician

> > with hyperacusis (and neuro mito symptoms) is a challenge. I

> > generally play blocks of 3-4 rehearsals and a concert over 3

> > days and have been able to book things so I have a 4-5 days

> > hiastus in between to recover. I'm somewhat of an oddity

> > because I'm an oboist attached to a portable oxygen tank, but

> > colleagues and regular conductors have gotten used to it and

> > the audience never knows. I even played at Lincoln Center's

> > Alice Tully that way...probably a first for that venerable hall.

> >

> > ARG! There goes a leaf blower across the street. That's gotta be

> > the worst!

> >

> > Anita

> >

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for sharing your personal story.

What a fighter you are and I really admire your courage and

strength. It is amazing that you were able to hang in there and

get your degree. I'm so sorry you were not able to do the

research and writing about music therapy that you had hoped to

do.

Thanks for mentioning the Ansay book. I will see if it's available

through our library.

My life certainly has taken some twists and turns that I never

envisioned, but I've learned a lot about life I never would have it

my life had been different.....and I've " met " some pretty wonderful

and inspiring people on the way....mostly fighting their own

health battles.

Big Hugs,

Anita