Hi All,
I did a thorough(sp?) cleaning of my M&E last night and a reaccuring thought came to me once again that I’d like to ask about…
Is it me, or the flute? The flute is very pretty… I CAN play it. I do. But It’s NOT gotten any more comfortable to play. I thought that it was just because I didn’t know what the flock I’m doing… but it’s not getting any better.
I love my flute, and even my Wife asks me to play for her on it [this is saying something because she HATES my Sasato D]. Should I keep stretching until my hand cramps up? Has anyone out there actually overcome a monster stretch and lived to tell the tale?
My Right hand cramped horribly when I started using a “proper” right hand grip on the flute. There were times when I could barely make it through a tune without having to take a break to stretch and relax.
I was almost ready to give up when I read an interview with Jean-Michael Vellion. When asked what advice he had for people just starting on the flute he said (and I parphrase): Constantly work on finding the most comfortable playing position, even if it’s a difficult thing to do.
I took that to heart, also realizing that with time the body will adjust, and have had much more success since following this advice - you know it’s really amazing how just moving one or more fingers a couple of millimeters around on the flute can make a huge difference in the amount of tension in your hand. I still work on finding the most comfortable position, not by radically altering my hand positions all the time, but rather by just holding the flute in position and paying close attention to how much tension there is in my fingers hands and arms. Just sort of tune into that, and then move your thumb a tiny bit left and feel how that changes things, give it a little time, then move the thumb back to where it was…does that cause more or less tension? Try moving the thumb a tad in the opposite direction and repeat, and so on. This process has helped me quite a bit.
Also, I was looking through past threads and someone said that they had used corks between thier fingers to stretch thier reach… anyone know about that?
The corks _will_ help you get more allowable stretch between your fingers, but you'll need to build up the strength to go with your new flexibility. I just did the flexibility/not enough strength thing to my hip joint, and I don't recommend it! :slight_smile:
The strength will come through playing, but you could also build it during downtime if you have a small rubberband. Set it around 2 fingers and stretch repeatedly for a minute or so and go on to the next set of fingers.
It's the difference between stretching while relaxing everything around it and really working the muscles to hold the fingers in your new wider stretch which is what you're doing while playing. The combination might protect you from more soreness.
Loren's advice is something I need to remember too since I'm still not relaxing my left hand especially.
It would probably be helpful if you let us know where your hand was cramping.
A cramp below the thumb (which I had many years ago) or the wrist is entirely differently than one on the outside of the palm along the line of the pinkey.
Too, knowing which hand is the one cramping would also help decipher a solution for you.
Then again, a flute with a Siccama system would solve all your ills if RH3 and LH3 holes are the issue. McGee is studying this idea lately.
Doirlinn,
You bring up a good point. I didn’t think of that. I’ll try the fingerbands technique and see how it affects my playing. I Hope it can help.
Hmmmmmm…[thinking]…
The cramping is in my right hand, along the outside of the thumb close to my wrist. Also, along the tendons of my ring finger, same hand, up to about halfway across my palm.
The cramping is in my right hand, along the outside of the thumb close to my wrist.
Be VERY CAREFUL that you are not causing a real problem here, 'kay? There is a tunnel through which 2 tendons to your thumb muscle must pass. When these tendons, or the tunnel, become inflamed ~ as in repetitive type injury ~ then every time you use your thumb, it will “rub” ('cause of a disproportion between the clearance inside the tunnel and the tendons that must glide through it, you know). The more it’s used, the more inflamed it gets ~ It is called DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis. I hope you don’t have it, because I’m trying to get over it right now. I injured myself playing flute last March, and although it’s some better, it’s VERY SLOW TO HEAL. To find out if you’ve got it or not, clench your fingers around your thumb, (as in a fist) and then move your hand side to side (not up and down) - if this HURTS, then you’ve got the problem. At this time, the only treatment is ~ 1. rest 2. Steroid injection mixed with lidocaine 3. Surgical release
I was told by a flute player on another list that his didn’t completely resolve for at LEAST 18 months… and that meant he didn’t play his flute the whole time ~ UGH !
My advice is this ~ DON’T get carried away! Go Slowly!
Mary
[ This Message was edited by: Whistlin’Dixie on 2002-09-19 21:11 ]
You may be courting tendonitis, carpal tunnel, etc., which are fairly common among musicians. Respectfully, I would be leery about using corks, bands and the like to extend or stretch your fingers. I’ve had similar problems with my jaw (TMJ, way common for flute players) and some sort of tendonitis problem with my arm from cello playing. My teachers advised me to have the problems checked out by a Dr. if was really bad, and to maybe try a course of anti-inflammatories. But most of all they said to take it slow and not strain myself. They recommended such things as stretching, only playing for 10 minutes at a time, and really thinking about relaxation. If I found any tension creeping in, I was to stop playing immediately and rest for a few minutes. This is hard because you want to play, practice and get better, but if you don’t address the issue you may end up not being able to play at all.
You might want to check out some of the musician-oriented health maintenance methods, such as The Alexander Technique.
WHOA!
Whistlin’,
I tried the test for pain, but I can only feel a very slight tightness. -no pain- The tightness could be from my mad paced computing (i’m a drafter). If it is tendy-night-is, maybe the new hand posstion I found during my last practice will prevent it from becoming a problem.
Loren,
I tried your advice about moving my thumbs bit by bit and I was able to find a comfortable position with my right hand! I didn’t think I could, but I had my thumb up past the RH1 hole. When I moved it to about half-way between RH1 and RH2, I was able to make the stretch and it was comfortable. I also turned all the holes back into alignment with the embouchure and that seemed to be good. It felt right. Now, I’m trying to do it with my left hand.
I’ve allways been self taught, dabbling for 9 years with boehm style, PVC, and bamboo flutes [geez, you’d think I’d be better by now…]… and I haven’t ever really known anyone but me who plays (except for rumors on the web). Also, I’ve never joined into the discussions on boards before. Things just don’t occur to you when you’re by yourself, sometimes, even if they’re obvious.
[quote]
On 2002-09-20 10:31, Tmitmis wrote:
WHOA!
Whistlin’,
I tried the test for pain, but I can only feel a very slight tightness. -no pain- The tightness could be from my mad paced computing (i’m a drafter).
I’m GLAD you checked!! Keyboarding, handwriting, etc. can all contribute, but as Loren and others point out, it’s finding a comfortable hand position and focusing on staying relaxed that are key…
Mary
Whistlin’D,
Thanks for bringing up the sale. It’s not fair of me to keep the post ‘alive’ if I’m having second thoughts. I’m putting it ON HOLD until I can tell if my left hand can ‘make peace’ with ‘Handsplitter’ [I’ve named it]. I’ll post again in a month if things really aren’t going to work out, but I’m hopeful.
The advice I got on hand position is working, and I was able to find the perfect position for my right hand. Comfortable and Relaxed. I still haven’t worked out the left hand, though, so I’m not sure if I shouldn’t sell it in the end.
