All inspiration here. I had some posture/pain issues a while back (just before starting my Compton lessons or just at the start) and found a physical therapist here in Hobart that specializes in musicians and hands, arms, shoulder, neck systems in the body. It was a revelation how one can do a couple of simple things to relieve pain, how the length of the strap, the arm position, and all the rest must be right to avoid issues. The therapist had special books just for hands..etc.
I must try that breathing thing. Seems like my attention can only go to one or two things at a time, so if working on right hand things, I have to play something that comes automatic with the left hand, and even then just one thing at a time, angle of strum, wrist/no wrist action, position in terms of the bridge, and when it seems right to then keep the memory of that in my awareness, to get back to it next time as a full habit. I often catch myself reverting back to old bad position, old bad technique, etc, so there seems to be always too much to think about. And Mike catches me at the forgetting ...is embarrassing but helpful...... Its that same feeling I have had with the meditation teacher, years ago, showing what I don't know, and not knowing that its showing...but when you realize it ...then want to go hide and get over the embarrassment. Enlightenment - painful sometimes but always rewarding. I like to think I can learn things easily, ideas and such from books ...seem to work well, but with the mandolin, so much has to be going on to get things like I want them and I find that for: tunes, fingerings, all the technique things, strums, pick grip and angle, etc., I am a very slow learner, but do learn, that is the positive thing. Having the patience with myself is the issue. Mike's suggestions caused me to change my general way of holding and playing the mandolin, and the way I hold and use the pick. That threw other things out of kilter so now trying to reclaim my tone, to play cleaner the way I used to..etc. Bad habits from years without any instruction take their toll. Just recently someone took a photo and there I was holding the mandolin the old way, without knowing it, gurr... I do get flack from the locals about playing tunes too slow. I prefer to play things well at a speed that allows for clean playing, fabulous tone. No matter the speed, I am at the edge of what I can do. It seems fast to me, cause I am playing the fastest I can manage and still feel satisfied with what it sounds like. Over the years though, speed is picking up S L O W L Y. HA linda On Feb 18, 4:15 am, Robin Gravina <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for those youtubes. I'll check them out. It's odd as I have > recently been working on exactly that posture from advice from someone > who teaches kundalini yoga. I hold that posture generally, but somehow > it all goes off as soon as I have a mandolin in my hands. I think > there probably must be an ideal position for each person, whereby you > can keep the instrument away from your body, without it causing > tension in your arms. I actually think what I might do is play simple > things for a while with my eyes closed, good posture, deep breathing, > and see if my body will show me how to do it. Ommm > > 2010/2/17, Don <[email protected]>: > > > > > Hey Robin, > > > I went through the same thing with a PT. It was torture but I can play > > pain free now. Good correct posture was the key for me for remaining > > pain free after playing. Look at videos of Chris Thile sitting down > > playing all hunched over. That's what you don't want. You want to play > > with good posture, pushing the top of your head straight up to the > > sky, chin tucked in slightly, shoulders back not hunched, back > > straight. Keep that posture while doing things like working on the > > computer and sitting on the couch too. Easier said than done. Also > > look for Pete Martin's videos on youtube for the correct way to hold > > the mandolin. That's an excellent resource for playing in a way that > > won't cause you physical problems. Seems too simple, but it's > > important. > > > Did your PT give you some exercises? Strengthening the muscles you > > need for good posture and the muscles you use playing mandolin will > > also help. > > > Good luck with it. Don > > > On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 7:02 AM, Robin Gravina <[email protected]> > > wrote: > >> Just had a gruelling physical therapy treatment this morning, for a fall > >> while ice skating (!); she is a really excellent therapist, and while she > >> was at it, she discovered a sore and knotted place under my left shoulder > >> which she couldn't explain, until I mentioned playing the mandolin, which > >> made perfect sense to her. > >> I had no idea that my playing position was causing me pain, so I was > >> wondering if anyone had any routines, stretches, or things they do in > >> order > >> to keep everything relaxed whilst playing and not get to the point where > >> you > >> need someone to torture you on a massage table. > >> Best > >> Robin > > >> -- > >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > >> "Taterbugmando" group. > >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >> [email protected]. > >> For more options, visit this group at > >>http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Taterbugmando" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > -- > Enviado desde mi dispositivo móvil -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
