I've decided that the violin is not for me.
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@ai6yr @johntimaeus @rsanders @plutarch @hutterer @bammerlaan @ascentale A bit strange for me too, that’s my old neighborhood in Oakland
I used to live a couple blocks away and bike though that intersection all the time@scm @ai6yr @johntimaeus @rsanders @plutarch @hutterer @bammerlaan @ascentale My wife has played piano for a Taizé prayer service at a UCC church in Oakland a couple of times and there was a cellist at both who rode his bike there! Actually it was most impressive for his climbing the very steep hill to get there. My instrument is tinwhistle and I highly recommend it for portability.
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@bammerlaan @plutarch imho the whole body is involved in cello - bowing is a big movement, plus you're reaching over the fingerboard for 4th position - I would strongly recommend hiring before buying if you have pain issues. Even just moving the case to get it out for practice could be a concern. A cello in a case is heavy.
@bluetea @bammerlaan @plutarch
The bass means you'll have your left hand up at shoulder level a lot, and bowing is a full right arm movement. If you're like me, you'll also be standing the whole time. I know people who can play upright while sitting, but I'm not one of them.
The cello takes less arm swing, and the left arm doesn't need to come up as high.
Depending on strings, style, and setup, the bass can require a lot more left hand strength, and if you're doing a lot of thumping/slapping pizz without amplification (think bluegrass) right hand too.
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@bluetea @bammerlaan @plutarch
The bass means you'll have your left hand up at shoulder level a lot, and bowing is a full right arm movement. If you're like me, you'll also be standing the whole time. I know people who can play upright while sitting, but I'm not one of them.
The cello takes less arm swing, and the left arm doesn't need to come up as high.
Depending on strings, style, and setup, the bass can require a lot more left hand strength, and if you're doing a lot of thumping/slapping pizz without amplification (think bluegrass) right hand too.
@johntimaeus @bluetea @plutarch Exactly. And don't get me started on the ergonomics of the violin / viola. I was constantly a little bit in pain when I studied it at conservatoire, briefly.
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@johntimaeus @bluetea @plutarch Exactly. And don't get me started on the ergonomics of the violin / viola. I was constantly a little bit in pain when I studied it at conservatoire, briefly.
@bammerlaan @bluetea @plutarch
I had a friend who was convinced all the bad attitudes we saw from violin players came from them always having a tension headache and cramped neck.
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@bammerlaan @bluetea @plutarch
I had a friend who was convinced all the bad attitudes we saw from violin players came from them always having a tension headache and cramped neck.
@johntimaeus @bammerlaan @bluetea
Right upper extremity radicular symptoms in a C6, C7 distribution
Loss of cervical lordosis
C2-C3 anterolisthesis, mobility with flexion extension, 2.6 mmLoss of lumbar lordosis
C5-C6 large left central, foraminal extrusion compressing the exiting left C6 nerve root. Right foraminal protrusion. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring. Moderate right and moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis.
That's (some of) what I already have, violin or none.
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@johntimaeus @bammerlaan @bluetea
Right upper extremity radicular symptoms in a C6, C7 distribution
Loss of cervical lordosis
C2-C3 anterolisthesis, mobility with flexion extension, 2.6 mmLoss of lumbar lordosis
C5-C6 large left central, foraminal extrusion compressing the exiting left C6 nerve root. Right foraminal protrusion. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring. Moderate right and moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis.
That's (some of) what I already have, violin or none.
@plutarch @johntimaeus @bammerlaan idk what any of that means, but I'm sorry you're experiencing it. Definitely speak to your medical professionals about your desire to play an instrument; possibly an occupational therapist or physiotherapist if you're not already seeing one.
Consider guitar. Much more forgiving than cello.
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@scm @ai6yr @johntimaeus @rsanders @plutarch @hutterer @bammerlaan @ascentale My wife has played piano for a Taizé prayer service at a UCC church in Oakland a couple of times and there was a cellist at both who rode his bike there! Actually it was most impressive for his climbing the very steep hill to get there. My instrument is tinwhistle and I highly recommend it for portability.
@jmccyoung @ai6yr @johntimaeus @rsanders @plutarch @hutterer @bammerlaan @ascentale there’s a guy who goes by Cello Joe who at least used to transport his cello on an extracycle https://cellojoe.com/home
Clearly he’s not the only one, but I used to see him around the Bay Area from time to time
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@johntimaeus @bammerlaan @bluetea
Right upper extremity radicular symptoms in a C6, C7 distribution
Loss of cervical lordosis
C2-C3 anterolisthesis, mobility with flexion extension, 2.6 mmLoss of lumbar lordosis
C5-C6 large left central, foraminal extrusion compressing the exiting left C6 nerve root. Right foraminal protrusion. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring. Moderate right and moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis.
That's (some of) what I already have, violin or none.
@plutarch @johntimaeus @bammerlaan @bluetea my sister had some shoulder/arm problems early in her career (specifically thoracic outlet syndrome). She eventually resolved it by finding an Alexander Technique teacher. It has helped many musicians. https://alexandertechnique.com/musicians/
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@plutarch @johntimaeus @bammerlaan idk what any of that means, but I'm sorry you're experiencing it. Definitely speak to your medical professionals about your desire to play an instrument; possibly an occupational therapist or physiotherapist if you're not already seeing one.
Consider guitar. Much more forgiving than cello.
@bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus I have to say I've never consider the guitar to be a particularly ergonomically friendly instrument, either! I'd say cello is actually better there. Perhaps a woodwind of some kind... Clarinetists never look very strained, I think. Nor do recorder players, but you're very limited in your repertoire. French horn is a classic instrument you can still pick up later in life, too, but I'm not sure about the ergonomics. Piano is quite ergonomic as well, of course.
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@bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus I have to say I've never consider the guitar to be a particularly ergonomically friendly instrument, either! I'd say cello is actually better there. Perhaps a woodwind of some kind... Clarinetists never look very strained, I think. Nor do recorder players, but you're very limited in your repertoire. French horn is a classic instrument you can still pick up later in life, too, but I'm not sure about the ergonomics. Piano is quite ergonomic as well, of course.
@bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus Of course I'm no expert on this. But your (left) wrist and hand is definitely more strained on a guitar than on a cello. It's just that bowing is very difficult to get right. But not particularly straining.
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@bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus Of course I'm no expert on this. But your (left) wrist and hand is definitely more strained on a guitar than on a cello. It's just that bowing is very difficult to get right. But not particularly straining.
@bammerlaan @bluetea @plutarch
So much of it depends on having a well fitted instrument and good mechanics from the beginning.
I'd almost given up on bass after about 6 months of never being able to play for more than 20 minutes at a time, and it not sounding the way I wanted it too.
Then I got new strings and with pointers (and loaner tools) from a luthier friend, got the action where it worked for me. Now playing is one of the ways I work out the cramps from sitting at the dayjob.
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@bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus I have to say I've never consider the guitar to be a particularly ergonomically friendly instrument, either! I'd say cello is actually better there. Perhaps a woodwind of some kind... Clarinetists never look very strained, I think. Nor do recorder players, but you're very limited in your repertoire. French horn is a classic instrument you can still pick up later in life, too, but I'm not sure about the ergonomics. Piano is quite ergonomic as well, of course.
@bammerlaan @bluetea @plutarch @johntimaeus French Horn is pretty low strain. You can rest it on your lap, and the hand position for holding it is ergonomic.
