Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Is playing the violin good or bad for your health?
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 10, 2011 - 10:40 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429
41sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Very good points Robyn,

We should probably do warm-ups before playing as well. I mean stretches and so forth. I've never tried it but then again, I play pretty often and may not need. I do however try to play slowly for the first 5 minutes before turning on Paganini for example.afro

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
July 11, 2011 - 7:35 am
Member Since: June 24, 2011
Forum Posts: 425
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
42sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I have two bad shoulders. It comes from years of working overhead. I work on energized powerlines and it is the only safe way to work. You really don't want 12,000 volts in your lap. Most linemen my age have had many different surgeries, knees, shoulders, fused disks in the spine, carpel tunnel, and of course hemorrhoids. I am very lucky, no surgeries. My shoulders used to bother me much more but we have been doing morning stretches with a Physical Therapist at work. It has helped very much. Most of the stretching focuses on the hands, wrists and shoulder/Do you get neck tension. I do tense up while playing and this morning I practiced for almost 3 hours. I try to take some ibuprofen about an hour before I play. My left shoulder and neck get pretty sore. I do some minimal stretching before and I take some short breaks and stretch my neck and rotate and stretch my shoulders. I watched FiddlerMan's video on how to hold the violin, I try to start that way but end up hunched and squeezing the violin with my chin as I raise my shoulder to crush the screeching blue vso! I don't care about some pain, it is so much fun! I played so long today my index finger on my left hand is still numb!

 

Dave

P.S.

I saw in AARP magazine, an over the counter product for ringing in the ears. I will see if I can find it online and post it here.

Avatar
Oliver
NC

King
Regulars
July 11, 2011 - 1:23 pm
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
43sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

The description of your playing posture is causing me to have pains!

The fitting of accessories is one of the most critical tasks of learning the violin.  In fact, a good fit may be one of the most difficult issues for a new student.

No one can tell you what feels good and you will just have to get a lot of info from internet sources.  You will probably spend a lot more money just trying out different chin and shoulder rests.  If you try to tough it out you will just be wasting a lot of valuable time.

Some distributors will lend accessories for trials.  I think that Shar and Southwest Strings will do that if you contact them.  Watch for the plastic accessories.  They are much cheaper than ebony or boxwood and they work just as well.

I personally have gone through about 5 each of chin rests and shoulder rests until I decided on a solution.

Good luck.

coffee2

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 11, 2011 - 5:25 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429
44sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Dave - I must say though that I was impressed by your posture for never having had lessons. You are holding the violin very nicely, your bow arm looks nice and even. You are drawing straight bows and keeping the contact point consistent. Have you never taken any lessons before?  Keep up the great work and do keep relaxing in mind at all times. Like this fish ------>fish

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
July 12, 2011 - 12:17 am
Member Since: June 24, 2011
Forum Posts: 425
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
45sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Yes, I had lessons when starting in fourth grade, played til highschool. Forgot everything I ever learned except Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Avatar
SisterJean
Nashville, TN

Member
Members
July 25, 2011 - 1:24 pm
Member Since: April 18, 2011
Forum Posts: 12
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
46sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I think it is great for my health personally.  Helps me relax, focus, and concentrate, all at the same time. 

Avatar
Joe

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
May 20, 2012 - 2:09 am
Member Since: April 21, 2012
Forum Posts: 595
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
47sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

it depends on if your neighbors have attended anger management

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: Mouse, stringy, nykteria
Guest(s) 118
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today Michael Browder, EBurrell
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7759
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31662
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10589
Posts: 134217
Newest Members:
SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08, creativestringsinfo
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5306