Dion Tucker is one of the premiere trombonists on the jazz scene today having played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, Steve Turre, he’s been on Broadway and much more. With such an accomplished career at such a young age, it is hard to imagine that it was almost cut short, but that’s exactly what happened last year. Dion was diagnosed with embouchure dystonia, which is a type of focal dystonia. But rather than get down about the cards he was dealt he decided to take the experience and turn it into something positive. I had the chance to catch up with him to talk about his journey through adversity, musician’s health, and much more.
When did you first notice something was not quite right with your chops and how long did it take to get a formal diagnosis?
I first noticed something was not right with my chops in mid-June of 2019. I was on tour with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in São Paulo, Brazil. I went from feeling a little off to within 3 weeks, not being able to play anything at all. I was unsure of what was happening, but after doing some research I learned that my symptoms were that of Embouchure Dystonia.
When you received the diagnosis what was your initial reaction and feelings about the situation?
My initial feelings were fear. I was really unsure of the future of my career. For many people, it takes a long time to recover, if they can recover at all. I had to shift my mindset to thinking about the future optimistically and not dwelling on what was lost from the past.
What steps did you take to start treatment and how long was the road to recovery?
I contacted a colleague of mine, Sam Burtis. I knew he had rebuilt his embouchure and I wondered if he could help steer me in the right direction. He was able to help me get on track by sharing a few effective exercises with me. I was then able to work with a specialist named Jan Kagarice. Jan is at the forefront of helping brass players recover from injuries. She helped me reach a higher level of playing than I had ever achieved. After about 6 months of training and rehabilitation, I was back to 100%.
Is there anything that instrumentalists can do to prevent focal dystonia?
Focal Dystonia happens to a very small percentage of musicians and its exact cause is unknown. I learned that my issue was likely caused by the inefficient use of my embouchure over a very long period —28 years to be exact. Having an understanding of how your body works and having the awareness that our brains are driving the process can be helpful to any musician in the long term.
I know for myself, the emphasis on health and well being was not talked about enough in college. Do you feel this should have more importance in college curriculums?
I do think that knowing your health is extremely important for musicians. Emphasizing this in college curriculums would be very beneficial for students and likely helpful in the longevity of
their instrument playing. Being able to make the holistic connection between life and music is essential information to have as a young musician.
As a musician that’s been on the scene for a while can you describe ways neglecting your health can harm their career?
There are many ways the lifestyle of musicians can affect our health, especially those of us who travel frequently. Oftentimes our sleep schedules are not normal. We have to eat at odd times, and our sleep schedules are irregular and frequently disrupted. It’s important to balance the “hang” by taking care of ourselves through diet, exercise, and proper rest.
I, for one, am glad to see this brother back and better than ever, and hopefully, we will get a chance to play some music together soon! Check out the full interview on our YouTube channel, and please visit Dion’s new website The Chops Shop where he discusses his battle with embouchure dystonia and more.
Photographer: Mikisha Morris-Tucker
Social Media
Website: www.TheChops-Shop.com
Instagram: thechops.shop and Dtuck917
Facebook: @TheChops.ShopLLC and @DionTuckerMusic
YouTube: The Chops Shop
Linkedln: The Chops Shop LLC
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