Violin and martial art

July 14, 2008 at 5:08 AM

I posted a topic on the discussion board regarding violinist and martial arts. I train in taekwondo and alot of the kids that I train with also plays musical instruments. I find it really bizarre that there are so many violinists practicing martial arts which can be such a risk for injuries to shoulder/hand/wrist/fingers. I've been training in taekwondo for 4 years, i'm a one test away from getting my black belt, I don't intend to give it up, but some injuries just scares me! It only take an inexperience parter to jerk their movement during a wrist lock to get an injury. I'll just have to really warm up and be careful. I also found out that my concertmaster at the CO I played at also trains in martial art!

On a separate topic, I want to blog about my progress report. It's still fun to look back what I wrote 6 month ago when I first started!

My teacher wanted me to start to playing scales in slurs, 2, 4, then 8. I tried it in front of her, she frowned because there is a very obvious change in sound when I change the bow direction. I think this exercise will be hard for me, even harder when doing the appregios.

Speaking of slurs, my head spins working on wolfhart 18. Someone pls rescue me, there are too many notes to slur for a beginner!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 14, 2008 at 6:19 AM

Playing the violin and studying Tai Chi actually have quite a bit in common. I used to have an adult beginner student who was also a student of Tai Chi. We discussed the similarities, and I wrote a blog on the subject back in May 2005. See http://www.violinist.com/blog/paulinefiddle/20055/

From NeaL Brooks
Posted on July 16, 2008 at 3:19 PM

When I was in school, I had to bring my violin to school once each week because I had a lesson right after classes.

Bullying was a reality I had to put up with and carrying the violin was like wearing a bull's eye.

I wish I had been taking martial arts, but my parents couldn't afford the time and money for that, too.

I think it is a great thing for these kids. I wish them the best with it.

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