Dear All
The collective wisdom as usual runs deeper than I expected, from
advice on how to minimize the damage done by gardening (economic
relaxed gestures, use of the right tool for the job, softening the
ground with water, wearing gloves: leather and wool for protection, or
latex for grip) to ideas on how to recover from gardening's bad effects
(soaking the fingers in warm water, use of various lotions, oils and
creams: Neutrogena, Aveeno) and last but certainly not least the Greg
Irwin's finger limbering exercises, suggested by Stephen, and the
"Chinese balls" suggested by Ron.
When I first went back to lute playing, I did use finger exercising
(including "Chinese balls"), and even whole body limbering up, as I was
so conscious of the loss of my youthful suppleness (reminds me of Lewis
Carol's "Father William"), but I admit I now tend to go straight to
playing, as I also tend to do with gardening. You have convinced me
that a return to limbering up, for both activities would be a help.
A professional singer would never begin singing without first
exercising the vocal chords, clearly a lutenist is just as dependent on
the state of their fingers, and indeed their shoulders and back. It has
often been an old shoulder injury that has caused me to stop playing.
I now realize just how tough it must be for a professional lute-player,
not only is there the constant worry of instruments being broken just
before the performance, and sometimes jet-lag (having to play in what,
for the player, is the middle of the night, as happened to me for a
conference in Sanfrancisco), but also the problem of stiff hands from
carrying the luggage, and the consciousness that any hand-injury could
prevent play.
Thank you all for you help and advice.
Regards
Anthony
__________________________________________________________________
De : Ron Fletcher <[email protected]>
A : Anthony Hind <[email protected]>; "[email protected]"
<[email protected]>
Envoye le : Mer 30 juin 2010, 10h 12min 26s
Objet : RE: [LUTE] incompatibility gardening/lute playing?
Hi Anthony,
At this time of year, when the demands of the garden are taking over
from
lute-playing, it is difficult to find compatibility for both hobbies.
Obviously it is important to wear gloves to protect the skin from cuts,
abrasions and the forming of hard-skin. Also use plenty of hand
moisturizer
as heavy manual work dries the skin.
But I find 'Chinese-balls' are a good exercise. I was given a pair as
a
present a few years ago. They are about 3cm diameter, hollow steel
which
you hold in one hand and keep crossing them over in a clockwise
direction
and then vise versa. Then do the same with the other hand. (Or use two
pairs at the same time).
Mine have a faint chiming sound inside, but you'd hardly notice. This
exercise is good for all the muscles/joints in the hand. I suppose
table-tennis balls could be used as a substitute, but would not have
quite
the same 'slippery' surface to rub together. Golf balls would be even
less
forgiving.
Best Wishes
Ron (UK)
-----Original Message-----
From: [1][email protected]
[mailto:[2][email protected]] On Behalf
Of Anthony Hind
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 10:10 AM
To: [3][email protected]
Subject: [LUTE] incompatibility gardening/lute playing?
Dear lutenists
Recently, I have found myself having to do some rather heavy
gardening, which appears to be almost incompatible with lute playing.
the simple fact of being physically tired is part of it, but also the
fingers seem less supple after clenching a spade or a pick-axe.
One lute player told me that even carrying suit-cases to a
performance,
can make their fingers stiff; and certain lute makers told me that
using a lute maker's tools can make lute playing more difficult;
although there are some excellent lute maker-players, even among us.
%
Do others have similar impressions, and if so, are there any ideas on
how to get round this, (apart, of course simply from getting someone
else to carry your lutes, and do the gardening, or play your lutes):
some exercise between activities to help prepare for playing,
perhaps?
%
At present, I am back in my flat in Paris, and so playing as much as
I
can, in spite of the hot weather, which also makes things more
difficult, and I have regained the suppleness, but I will soon have
to
go back to gardening.
Thanks for any advice,
Anthony
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