Lately I have been playing a pice that goes form very low to high and i sit near the low end as most of the piece is there. When i go upwards I cock my head to the right for some reason. I now find that no matter what I play my head is cocked to the right and this is making me dizzy. I try to keep my head straight but focusing on it degrades my playing. How can I remedy this, and has anyone ever experienced this?

A.C.

-- Alan C (xxchscrazyguyxx@aol.com), August 20, 2001

Answers

First of all, you should always sit squarely in the center of the bench, regardless of where most of the notes are located. This simple adjustment should solve your problems.

-- paula estess (catqueene@aol.com), October 11, 2001.

I'm sorry--I'm answering your question almost a year later! I found this site today, so I'm excused, right?! I highly recommend seeing a neurologist. Then he/she can steer you in the right direction. It might be something simple, but it could also be something more involved. I would definitely see a neurologist, if I were you. Keep me/all of us posted, ok?

-- Jan M. (j9muhl@juno.com), July 30, 2002.

You appear to have right BPPV ( benign positional paroxysmal vertigo) which is a common problem. We who specialise in dizziness see this a lot. Positional changes of your head such as looking slightly up and to one side causes the balance receptor in your right inner ear to be triggered (by loose misplaced particles) causing rotatory dizziness lasting 4-10 seconds.

It is nothing to worry about if you have no other symptoms. A neurotologist or otologist can easily pop the particles back to where they will not trigger this dizziness. The Epley manoeuvre only takes around 10 minutes, involves rolling you around on the couch, and is around 85% effective on the first attempt. BPPV can happen after a little bump on the head, a virus, or just wear and tear with age. Even if you do not go to a neurologist it should settle down within a few months, it's just the inconvenience, fuzziness and disorientation that is bothersome.

I hope that you can get this sorted out as this must be a problem for your daily practice and possibly turning in bed to either side, looking up at kitchen cupboards, looking under tables at things you have dropped. Best wishes from a piano playing audiological physician in London UK

-- ccneurotologist (ccc1234321@yahoo.co.uk), April 11, 2004.