Tongue involvement in embouchure dystonia: new piloting results using real-time MRI of trumpet players.

Background: The embouchure of trumpet players is of utmost importance for tone production and quality of playing. It requires skilled coordination of lips, facial muscles, tongue, oral cavity, larynx and breathing and has to be maintained by steady practice. In rare cases, embouchure dystonia (EmD), a highly task specific movement disorder, may cause deterioration of sound quality and reduced control of tongue and lip movements.