Good evening!
After my first practice set with not wery good chanter and unhermetic bag i got a problem with a finger.
The point is, that when i play pipes (or even imaging, that i do), the middle finger on left (top) hand is straining, that minimize speed of it, spoil work of other fingers, especially on triplets and passages with Cnat.
This is not physiological problem, when i’m, for example, extremely excited or something, and not thinking of music- i can play triplets and all without problems. So it is psychological thing.
I’m trying to get rid of this, playing slowly, playing scales and arpeggios from A, but it does not work.
Thank you for answers in advance!=)
It sounds like it could be a “death grip” problem – too much tension in the hands, and squeezing the chanter too tight. Try relaxing the fingers, mentally and physically, and use a lighter touch. When you concentrate on fingering, it’s possible to overlook a death grip. If so, the problem is both physiological and psychological. Good luck!
Take a drinking straw. Mark the tone holes on the straw and practise on that. If you crush the straw you are squeezing too tightly.
Get another straw. Try again.
djm
Thank you!
In fact, i’m not squeezing chanter to tight (and of course, i would not breake a staw=)) The matter is, that only one finger is tensing- it’s not pressing the chanter, just movability in it’s joints reduced.
I hate to even suggest this, but you aware of a condition called “focal dystonia” (also called writers or musicians cramp)?
You might want to do some reading to find out more, and make sure this is not what is happening.
m.
MJS
Thank you!! I will visit a doctor in a week.