Anthony Hind wrote:
Dear lutenists
Recently, I have found myself having to do some rather heavy
gardening, which appears to be almost incompatible with lute playing.
the simple fact of being physically tired is part of it, but also the
fingers seem less supple after clenching a spade or a pick-axe.
One lute player told me that even carrying suit-cases to a performance,
can make their fingers stiff; and certain lute makers told me that
using a lute maker's tools can make lute playing more difficult;
although there are some excellent lute maker-players, even among us.
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Do others have similar impressions, and if so, are there any ideas on
how to get round this, (apart, of course simply from getting someone
else to carry your lutes, and do the gardening, or play your lutes):
some exercise between activities to help prepare for playing, perhaps?
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At present, I am back in my flat in Paris, and so playing as much as I
can, in spite of the hot weather, which also makes things more
difficult, and I have regained the suppleness, but I will soon have to
go back to gardening.
Thanks for any advice,
Anthon
I have found that it IS rather difficult to play lute (or any other
instrument) while gardening ;)
More seriously: the problem frequently is tired, overstrained muscles
which have be performing unaccustomed actions. If the muscles become
accustomed to the exercise you may even find that your playing ability
has improved because the muscles are stronger and need a lower
percentage of their power to play, meaning your fingers are more
relaxed. I found this out may years ago when I was first seriously
working on classical guitar and had to milk a cow; at first my fingers
were impossibly stiff, but after a while I found that my fingers were
stronger and could play more easily. Of course the joints need to be
worked to maintain flexibility as well, since frequently the exercise
which strengthens the muscles doesn't involve much range of motion.
Of course, now age and surgery to repair a severed tendon in my left
hand have reduced my hand's flexibility :(
Stephen Fryer
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