February 22, 2005 at 2:37 AM

I'm pretty bummed out right now because I haven't been able to put a good practice in for a few days. I'm having this really weird problem with my left arm/shoulder. Sometimes when I lift the violin to my chin, put the violin down, or hit high notes, I get this strange jabbing/pulling feeling in my upper arm. It is in a very particular place on my arm, and is very brief but painful, and after I get it my face feels all tingly and I get an unvoluntary sort of shudder or spasm. It is painful enough that it keeps me from practicing, but it doesn't linger; the jab & tingly feeling disppear in seconds. But then I'll get it again a few mins later.
Recently I switched to a larger size violin, and my teacher and I are wondering if it has something to do with that. But it hasn't bothered me since now, and I've been playing that violin for over 2 months.
I'm pretty heavily involved in a Brazillian martial art/dance sport called capoeira, which I've been doing since last September. But I took a break from it (to get ready for that awful competition) and came back after a month. I don't think I went overboard or pushed myself or anything, but that may have been the reason. My quartet coach suggested I try lifting up my chest a bit more and straightening my back, but I've always had pretty good sitting posture, so I didn't expect it to make a difference, and it didn't.
Maybe some of you have experienced this before and have some advice?
In other news, I'm going to hear David Kim play Tchaikovsky with the Philadelphia Orchestra tomorrow night. Yipee! Also, I heard that Jennifer Higdon is writing a concerto for Hilary Hahn to play with the Baltimore Symphony next year. She is doing the same thing for Time for Three to play with the Philly orchestra. (Ooh, I'm getting good at these "a href=" things!)
--alice

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on February 22, 2005 at 5:12 AM

Alicelizard, your pain sounds like it could be something serious. I advise you to see a doctor ASAP and take a break from playing violin for a few days. It may be something that will heal itself, given time, but it's best to see a doctor, anyway.

From Scott 68
Posted on February 22, 2005 at 3:43 PM

that sucks about the pain thing, Im with pauline, go see a doctor maybe that will solve the problem and you will again be able to slave away at this evil thing that takes all your time and money that is the violin

a new violin concerto written for hilary hahn? that sounds exciting

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February 22, 2005 at 2:37 AM

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