September 2008

Well, this isn't overwhelming at all . . . ;)

September 29, 2008 22:55

As I'm recovering from tendonitis, I'm trying to approach the solution from a lot of different angles. I did physical therapy for several weeks, and am settling into a routine of stretching, mild strength training for my arms/shoulders, and swimming. I've been wearing splints and taking an anti-inflammatory prescription the last few weeks, which I'm gradually weaning my way out of. I'm trying to drink more water and warming my wrists gently before practicing, to loosen up the tendons. For now I'm avoiding extra typing, writing, and handcrafts that tend to irritate them.

By far my biggest challenge is correcting my technique. Now that I'm more aware, I'm amazed at how much tension I was allowing in my playing. I've consulted my violin and viola professors, as well as my chamber music coach (a cellist) and a visiting pianist who specializes in musician injuries. Bottom line, the number one cause of my pain appears to be my poor posture. Over many years, I've gotten into the common violinist habit of raising my left shoulder and squeezing with my neck. I also tend to twist if I ever had to sit and play. In addition, I've had tension in both thumbs, especially the large thumb muscle in my left hand.

Basically I have a three-fold system of change to implement. First, though I'm continuing to use a shoulder rest for the purpose of stability, I'm trying to learn to play AS IF I wasn't. Basically, I'm resting the violin on my collarbone and balancing it between that point and my left hand (thumb and first finger joint). I'm trying to keep my shoulders very level, and only using my chin when necessary (and even then, not squeezing, but using the natural weight of my head). This is probably the hardest part for me. Unfortunately, according to that visiting pianist, I've gotten to the point where I literally don't know how to stand up straight. I'd think I was 'straight,' but in fact my left shoulder would be higher, especially if I put my violin up. I also tend to arch my back too much if I'm not careful. I've been using my MacBook a lot to video record myself and check up on all these things. I'm finding that my left shoulder tires more quickly this way, but it makes sense: now I'm actually holding up my arm independently and supporting the instrument in my hand when I play, as opposed to relying on shoulder tension to do both. I'm still using a shoulder rest, but trying to view it solely as an aid to keeping the instrument from moving too much.

So, though I'm not going cold turkey, as my viola professor put it, I still have to re-learn certain things like how to shift. I also have to constantly watch my left thumb so I'm not squeezing. I'm finding that to avoid this squeezing, it helps to keep my thumb back far enough and let it touch the neck on the left side (of my thumb), not the flatter fleshy part. Also, I simply don't need as much pressure as I thought to keep the strings down. Chords are still a challenge for me, but I'm practicing them very slowly to figure out the least stressful way to play them.

Finally, I'm re-thinking my bowing a little. My viola professor has had me practice really feeling the weight of my right arm and using that, as opposed to hand force, to really lead my bow. Usually the first thing I do when I take out my instrument is a certain type of long tones. I start at the frog, anchoring my bow and really hanging all my arm weight from my fingers. I try to breath and relax, and then gradually draw the bow. It sounds horrible, especially for the first few inches, since I'm using waaay more weight than I actually need. I'l draw the bow as far as I can comfortably and then change direction. I'm trying to keep my fingers a little more wrapped around the stick (for better weight distribution) and have my elbow just a little lower (so my wrist doesn't bend up too much).

The combination of this bowing work, along with freeing up my neck, is really starting to open up my sound. At the moment, I feel like I can't play anything. My practicing right consists for the most part of long tones, very slow scales and etudes, and short chunks of repertoire at very slow tempos. That's all I can manage without reverting to my old ways. Unfortunately, I don't know how my plans to transfer schools will pan out. I can't tell yet if I'll have the repertoire prepared in time. It's quite frustrating, but my first priority is healing and fixing my technique. I'm really grateful to be making these discoveries now rather than later, when it could be too late. I think that in the long run, this process will help me to be better than ever. Key word: patience. :)

14 replies | Archive link

Those who can't play . . . sing

September 13, 2008 14:41

During my recent hiatus from practicing due to tendonitis, I found myself singing much more than usual. In the car, in my room, outside . . . I guess I just needed a musical outlet in the absence of my violin. I found that I really enjoy singing actually, and it's something I'd like to keep at.

While playing around with this arrangement, I also came to appreciate all those partwriting rules that music theory has pounded into my head. ;)

5 replies | Archive link

A time to heal

September 7, 2008 14:25

"Ruth appears to have some tendonitis of the wrists related to violin playing. I recommend 1 week rest (i.e., off orchestra), anti-inflammatories, & physical therapy."

And a lot of patience and hope.

I haven't written here for a couple months, partly because I was away at Aspen, and partly because of the tendonitis I developed at the end of the summer. I was having some wrist pain towards the end of the festival, which I thought was just due to some over-playing. I've never had arm problems before, and didn't see this coming. It shouldn't come as a shock I suppose. At 5'3 and 105 lb, I'm not the most 'beefy' person, as the doctor put it. I'm relatively healthy, but never exercised very regularly. Besides violin, I use my hands a lot in life: typing for school and recreation, writing, handcrafts. Add tension in my playing, and you have a recipe for injury to develop. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

After two doctor visits and many conversations with my teachers and friends, I have a basic plan for healing. First, no playing at all this week, including orchestra. The doctor gave me an anti-inflammatory prescription, and I'm trying to eat well and drink lots of water. I just took up swimming, and am looking into Feldankrais coachings for the future. In the meantime, I need to get in with a physical therapist this week. One of my friends is certified in Reiki, so I may try that as well. I'm trying to avoid excess typing and writing (I wouldn't be typing this at all, except for the fact that I need all the advice I can get for how best to heal).

Bottom line, the most important thing moving forward is evaluating tension in my playing. I've noticed some raising and hunching of my left shoulder. I also need to focus on relaxing my bowstroke all the way from my back muscles through my shoulder and down to my hand. My motions have to work with my body, not against it. If you notice anything else in my playing that I should be fixing, please don't hesitate to tell me. I have several YouTube videos — the Mozart or Bach are probably the best view.

Honestly, the hardest thing this week will be not playing. Even the couple weekends I took off, it was very frustrating being away from my instrument. I didn't realize just how stimulating practicing can be. That mental-aural-physical connection is so important to my daily routine. Of course, I'll try and keep up some mental practicing, and I'll be sitting in on orchestra rehearsals when I can't play. But of course, its just not the same.

As frustrating as this process is right now, I'm glad it's happening sooner rather than later. This is giving me a wake up call to the long-term changes I need to make, both health-wise and technique-wise. I think in the end it will give me an ever greater appreciation of my ability to play. I don't think I'll take practicing for granted any time soon.

11 replies | Archive link

More entries: October 2008 • July 2008

September 2008

Well, this isn't overwhelming at all . . . ;)

Those who can't play . . . sing

A time to heal

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