On May 3, 2006, at 9:08 PM, Stephen Arndt wrote: > Dear Lute List, > > ...I would like to ask whether any other members of the lute list have > experienced similar physical problems and, if so, how they solved > them. I > would be very appreciative of any help anyone could give me.
Okay, since nine years of age (1956) I was found to have a severe scoliosis. When I first took up the lute in 1980 I was suffering from chronic back pain. To cut a long story very short, if I was going to continue playing lute and guitar, I had to find a way to play with both feet flat on the ground, and not with one foot propped up on a footstool. I now play the lute using a strap to support the left-hand end of the lute and the instrument resting on my right thigh; and I play guitar with one of those cushion things to elevate (levitate? ho! ho!) the guitar so that it is not just sitting on my left thigh. The important thing for me was to learn to play sitting up straight with both feet flat on the ground. Also, I embarked on a search for the root cause of my back trouble. No further comment on that. I'm still looking! I don't know if it helps in any way, but you're certainly not alone in battling these kinds of problems. David Rastall [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.rastallmusic.com To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
