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One problem I have with learning the violin is that I've injured both wrists and several fingers over the years and so my flexibility and finger strength isn't what it should be. I've seen a few products out there that help with finger strength but they often get reviews that the spring mounts break and are pretty much not worth the cost. Do you all have any suggestions on something I can pick up that will help with both finger strength and in working general flexibility?
Hmm... perhaps I should stop by some muscle & fitness store and pick up some HGH or something along those lines. 
"I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie."
http://fiddlershop.com/accesso.....-tool.html
http://fiddlershop.com/accesso.....ation.html
Talk to Pierre about these items. I think he has tries them both out.
I can understand completely about finger flexibility. I have arthritis but it isn't too bad in my left hand yet but my right hand my knuckles get locked in position. Makes bowing a crazy thing, sometimes I just drop the bow without knowing it.
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The best thing for finger strength vs cost is squeezin a tennis ball. As far as finger flexibility goes, this is for bow control. Using the wrist and fingers to do triplets or runs of a quick nature as well as string changes and finesseing the bow. FM definately will have the experience more than I in this area as I am still developing mine.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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As far as these products are concerned. They appear to be good but I have never used them regularly. Not because it's a problem in any way for me but because I forget about it and have no real need for it now. Some of my friends have told me that the vari-grip is great and I gave a Dynaflex Gyro Hand Exerciser to my best friend and his wife uses it all the time. It took her a long time to learn to use it but now she is hooked. Claims that it has really strengthened her wrists and she is a professional bassist. My guess is that anything you use to strengthen your fingers will be good as long as you do it regularly, not overdo it and allow rest time for recovery. I will talk to a physical therapist that I know about strengthening fingers safely and get back on this. If anyone knows a little more, please post your ideas here.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I was looking at the Gyro a few moments ago and it's an interesting tool for sure. Does something like that help with flexability as well? So far, I've just been doing some stretching exercises I learned from taking Aikido and it seams to help to some extent.
"I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie."
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I really don't think that it helps with flexibility. I like the idea of using gentle stretching exercises. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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That Gyro is pretty interesting. I have one, but it really works on your wrists and not your hands. It also doesn't hold my attention for very long. I can do it over a period of a couple of weeks and then I lose interest. In fact, I don't know where mine is at this time... 
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How long can you keep it going though?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
How long can you keep it going though?
I can keep it going for long enough to get sore the next day...
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That is my point exactly. It is really tough after say 5 minutes to do it intensely. I think it's great for the dedicated workout person. I'm a little lazy though. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I don't think it is a very good tool for a musician. If you are a hockey player wanting to strengthen your wrists, it might be good. It always made my forearms feel stiff. Like I said, I can't even find it now.
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they need to make little tiny ones to fit on each finger to use while you practice!
Talk about a workout!
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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I have been so slammed with work and travel these past three weeks that I haven't added crap to Forum, so I've got a minute to now add My Two Cents -
About 6 wks ago I posted a question asking for ideas in developing left-hand finger flexibility to help me master triplets in a song I was trying to learn. I've broken almost every finger and thumb that I own over the years and that, compounded with my very old age, my finger flexibility and speed were for crap!
So here's what I've been doing for the past 6 wks, with spectacular results [for me]-
Almost every minute that I drive, I listen to Bluegrass music, and almost every minute, I am doing very intense & focused fingering on my steering wheel with my left hand. I have a pretty thick steering wheel and, although it's not the thickness of my violin neck, it's close. I hold the wheel like I would my violin; thumb on one side, wrapping my hand around behind and fingers coming down on top. I started out slowly doing triplet fingering, then started to include my pinky, focusing on distinct finger placement and timing, and then started speeding it up.
It's such an intense workout and focused control that after about 5 minutes of non-stop finger placement, I have to take a 1 minute break; I just go from song to song; my hand and fingers are on fire and totally fatigued after 30 - 45 min.s. Not only has my finger strength and flexibility improved greatly, but my finger control has improved enormously. What I was totally unable to do 6 wks ago, I can now do really pretty well without any thought.
I hope, Fred, your left hand and finger's aren't so preoccupied that it take's away from using it to turn on your turn signa's when changing lane's or turning.
And you're not that old...... sir. LOL
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That is great to hear Fred. Imagine how quickly things are moving forward for you. Look at yourself back when you first started this journey.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Haaaaa, Ken, if you ever road in a car with me, you'd discover that me using turn signals is the least of your worries, lmao!
FM, thanks for the kind words; you know, just last night, my wife came into my office; I was practicing, and she said, "you know, I've just got to tell you, how far you've come with your violin in this past year [8 months]; you are really enjoyable to listen to". As you can expect, that just warmed my heart, it made me feel great; because that's how I have been feeling, but didn't know if anyone else could tell.
ftufc said
As you can expect, that just warmed my heart, it made me feel great; because that's how I have been feeling, but didn't know if anyone else could tell.
I think you have to kinda present yourself in video for us to tell. Wuddaya think
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It warms my heart to heat that what she said warmed your heart. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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FinalPatriot said
One problem I have with learning the violin is that I've injured both wrists and several fingers over the years and so my flexibility and finger strength isn't what it should be. I've seen a few products out there that help with finger strength but they often get reviews that the spring mounts break and are pretty much not worth the cost. Do you all have any suggestions on something I can pick up that will help with both finger strength and in working general flexibility?
Hmm... perhaps I should stop by some muscle & fitness store and pick up some HGH or something along those lines.
Pilates with a Polestar certified instructor. Polestar certifications have Physical Therapy built in (Stott does not). IMHO, would rehab your core, shoulders, arms, hands at the same time. Its all connected.
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. Charlie Parker
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picklefish said
The best thing for finger strength vs cost is squeezin a tennis ball. As far as finger flexibility goes, this is for bow control. Using the wrist and fingers to do triplets or runs of a quick nature as well as string changes and finesseing the bow. FM definately will have the experience more than I in this area as I am still developing mine.
a new tennis ball is humbling. So I use the one my dog chewed in half.third finger is horribly week
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