Pulmonary Stenosis and Playing a Musical Instrument (Woodwind/Brass)?

Question

The time has come for my 8 year old son to pick an instrument in school. He wants to play the bassoon, but that may not happen for awhile due to availability of a short-reach bassoon.

Anyhow, he could start on the clarinet or oboe to work towards a bassoon. I took him into a music store to try them out, and he was blowing REALLY hard into the oboe (I guess it takes some getting used to), and so the guy let him try a clarinet for awhile, which wasn't as ha.

The guy told me that my son's lip shape (teardrop) and teeth (right now there's a space) would probably rule out brass and flute. (I'm not sure I buy that).

He has a mild narrowing of his pulmonary valve or pulmonary stenosis with a heart murmur. Although he's been cleared for activities, I think that the doctor means that exertion is ok. I'm not sure if purposely blowing hard into an instrument could harm him, and I believe the school will be deciding instruments before I can see the doctor.

Anyone dealt with this?

Answer 1

My son is only 18 months but he has the same condition of a pulmonary stenosis and murmur.  We do blowing whistles and bubbles in speech therapy.  As a nurse I can tell you that the blowing will not hurt him.  He could have trouble keeping up with the endurance of blowing.  I would advise the music teachers of his condition and tell him to look out for dizziness or blue lips and that he could need to take a break.  He probably won't have these happening but it could.  How long ago did he get dx with the stenosis because it usually improves over time (if congenital-at birth)?

Answer 2

ask your question at woodwind.org under the clarinet bulletin board

Answer 3

I am not very informed about pulmonary issues, however I have asthma and a mild heart murmur myself, and I have played the flute for eight years now. I have never heard of lip shape and teeth being a problem when playing the flute, you blow through your lips not your teeth. Also a good music teacher will teach kids the proper way to breathe and blow into their instruments, so they do not strain their lungs. I would let him try it- he could be the next Mozart!