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Updated: May 15, 2026

Construction and Characterization of a Novel Vocal Fold Bioreactor
Published on: August 1, 2014
Rehabilitation of a cellist whose vibrato was affected by focal dystonia
Rae de Lisle1, Dale B Speedy, John M D Thompson
1School of Music, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. r.delisle@auckland.ac.nz
Abstract:
Focal dystonia can result in a variety of technical problems in the performing musician, most often affecting control of finger movement, and embouchure. Less common is the effect of focal dystonia on the vibrato of string players. The professional cellist in our study presented with difficulty controlling her vibrato, which fluctuated both in speed and amplitude, causing an inconsistency of sound. This study investigated whether instrumental retraining could alleviate her condition. We report the novel finding that instrumental retraining can significantly improve the symptoms of a dystonic vibrato in a cellist.
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