January 18, 2012

Healthy String Playing: 5 Dos

1. Do warm up. Warm muscles are more efficient, strong, and resilient. Muscles that are overused, fatigued, and under-conditioned are more tense and require more work for a demanding task. Start with several slow and smooth stretches away from the instrument. Start slowly and easily at the instrument. Long, slow shifts are good, and then slow scales. If it is cold outside, warm yourself before playing.

2. Do take breaks. Ten minutes per hour minimum is a good guide. Let your arms hang down for a few seconds after a difficult passage. After tremolo or fortissimo passages, move your right thumb in circles or stretch it out gently to release any tension.

3. Do keep your shoulders down and your back straight. Lifting shoulders, turning or twisting your torso, or leaning to the left or right contributes to muscle strain and may lead to injury. 

4. Do sit with good posture. Keep your weight forward and on your feet, and your feet on the floor. Keep your head upright and in a neutral position. Dropping your head forward or turning to either side tightens neck and shoulder muscles and could also compress surrounding nerve ends, causing headaches, disc problems, and eye strain.

5. Do some stress-reducing relaxation activity and get regular exercise. Yoga, stretching, swimming, Alexander Technique, and massage are all good preventative activities. These can help to keep tension from building up. Muscles that are tight, weak, and untoned are more injury-prone than strong, flexible, and resilient muscles
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By Janet Horvath