The topic about the tophand little finger made me think about another topic.
Lately I have been experimenting a lot with playing positions.
Doing so I found out that approaching the chanter to my body makes it easier for me. I try to do this by putting the bag as backward as possible (as far as the dronestock allows me to), which would have the same effect as shortening the neck. This way, the top of chanter is tilted more towards the body (chanter is getting a more vertical position)
Aproach the chanter more to my body, I find it easier to remain seated in an upright position and keep my shoulders wide (a bad habit for pipers is narrowing the shoulder belt while playing)
The result for me is that triplets can be played more thight, A roll is easier.
I have been looking at photos of good players (watch Lunasa piperphoto posted lately) and I think that the majority of them play this way, with shorter necks and chanter in a more vertical position…Am I right?
As I’m on the waitinglist of a new set, has anyone an idea how to measure your best position? You can feel it for yourself, but I want to translate this into a measurement for neck length…
I guess it comes down to what’s most comfortable. That being said, pulling the chanter closer into your body could be cramping you even though it feels comfortable. That could have ramifications down the track for the health of your arms, tendons, shoulders and back.
The most important thing I’ve learnt (the hard way) is not to slouch. Many pipers like to do the Davy Spillane thing and slouch over their pipes. Well, he’s pretty well built so I guess it’s okay for him, but the safest bet would be to model your position on pipers like Liam O’Flynn as seen in the Planxty reunion DVD - back fairly straight, head up-right and arms out at a good but comfortable reach. Sure, on the back of the ‘Well Below The Valley’ album in his younger days he certainly slouches over the pipes, but he seems to have straightened out since then.
I once once woke up in the middle of the night just as I felt the muscles down the right side of my back rip apart. I couldn’t move for a day. Finally the pain subsided but my back was left literally as stiff as a board.
I went to my chiropractor who immediately fixed me up and told me that because I played pipes, drove the car, sat at the desk with my head and neck slouched forward that I had caused my back muscles to behave the way they did. That was at a time that I was also tucking myself into my pipes, leaning over them with the chanter in close to my body. Sure, it made playing easier, but it didn’t do my back any good.
Just some things to think about. I’m now overcoming a rotator cuff strain which has been causing the shoulder pains, arm and finger tingling. A combination of chiropractic and anti-inflammitories is doing the job. Off to a physiotherapist shortly to learn some rehabilitaion and shoulder strenghthening exercises.
When I saw Paddy Kennan “up close and personal” in the Mississipi River Tionol several years ago, just before he had his new drones, his chanter position lookes as if it’s lots more horizontal than vertical, his left forearm rests on his leg, I think, or it was darn close.
Most people play them more “vertical” than I, as the drones tend to slide around and get in the way of my right hand if the neck gets shorter. It seems to work the right arm more with the more vertical chanter position as well.
My opinion will probably change when I make some more reeds and learn to play the regs with the C set.
