www.jarmohoogendijk.com

Dear friends, fans and collegues,

I have not played anymore since early 2004, due to a damaged embouchure and due to complications as a result of lip-muscle-surgery in Toronto. By now I could write a book about the Canadian surgeon's outrageously too optimistic prognosis (4 months), concealing of risks well known to him, the total lack of relevant "after care" and giving a lot of inconsistent and contradicting information. Having been in touch with several of his patients since, I learned that recuperation from the surgery's complications (scar tissue) is often a multiple year project, and some have not made it back to playing even after many years. Attempts to remove the scar tissue have often been disastrous.
I have consulted with many doctors since and have tried several different treatments (massage, muscle exercises, infra red therapy, acupuncture etc.) My lip muscle seems to be fine now but the scar tissue in the center of my upper lip (including the red part) is definetely in-operable and several other facial muscles do still hurt, possibly due to inflammation. Fortunately there is not too much visible damage.
Famous trumpet teacher Bo Nilsson from Sweden is helping me to learn to play in spite of a seemingly useless upper lip. It seems there are possibilities, but first I need to find proper treatment for the still hurting facial muscles.

During these recent years I have kept teaching at the Royal Conservatoire (The Hague) and Codarts-Rotterdam Jazz Academy. I got offered a job as coordinator of the Rotterdam Jazz Academy and also as coach/research supervisor for Master of Music students at Codarts-Rotterdam Conservatoire.

A KIND REQUEST:

Please do not shower me any longer with mails, letters, phone calls and questions about my disability to play trumpet. When you meet me, please not ask if or when I will be playing again, because I do not know. I want to be free to visit concerts and public places without being forced to talk about this same subject all day long, year after year.
I need all my time and energy to get settled in a new job and a new life. And perhaps I will play one day again. I'll do what I can, the result is up to the Spirit of the Universe. I had the privilege to play an enormous amount of concerts for almost 25 years and I survived many trumpet heroes in age already. Listening to music is still a great joy and I'm healthy and quite happy. Working with talented and eager young musicians is very rewarding.
Wishing everyone all the best,
love
Jarmo

Photo by JL. Knaepen