Working with physical limitations…

[Marie Forrest]

Hello everyone!

I finally joined this site today after months of lurking.

[unknown-user]

Dear Marie,

I have not encountered this particular problem before, but will say that I have worked with students with limitations before and myself play with an injury.

I would encourage you to not do too much playing until you have seen the specialist and it may be worth also gaining a referal to a physiotherapist – who understands your problem, can look at what you do at the harp, and offer solutions.

[kay-lister]

Hi Marie and WELCOME!

I would definately seek the opinion of the medical profession first and maybe take your harp with you and show them the process.

[unknown-user]

Hi Marie

Welcome! If I am not mistaken, you can buy fingerless gloves that should keep the tendons in place… but you probably would know about these by now if they existed. If you did find a pair, I’m sure it would be no big deal to play in them.

~Sam

[Marie Forrest]

Thanks for your comments, guys!

Ann, the physiotherapist is a great idea; I’ll definitely talk to my doctor about it.

[unknown-user]

Dear Marie,

Yes, please do get back to us and let us know what the specialist has said. Many people play with injuries or physical problems, and working with a physiotherapist can be extremely beneficial and positive.

Additionally, I would encourage you to have some harp lessons and not be

[kay-lister]

Marie,

No, my friend is not self taught.

[Ann]

There are comfortable elastic fingerless gloves usually marketed for easing arthritis pain, not very expensive. I’ve seen them at Walgreen’s, Target and other drustore type stores. They help me a lot when my hands tire from knitting or computer work or playing flute. They’re usually in the same section with Ace bandages, ankle and knee and wrist braces, that sort of thing. I don’t know for sure if these are the gloves Sam referred to, but if so, they’re cheap and effective (in my experience), comfortable and don’t even look goofy! They’re worth a try anyway.

[Marie Forrest]

So I’m getting the impression, Ann B. and Kay, that at least giving proper lessons a shot is a good idea.

[unknown-user]

Dear Marie,

As you are moving to Wales, you might like to contact Elinor Bennett. I’m sure

[Marie Forrest]

For those who wanted an update…

It turns out that surgery is the only way I’ll ever have fully functional, pain-free hands.

[lynda-jardine]

Hi Marie,

[Misty Harrison]

Those gloves are supposed to do a lot to help your hand so maybe look at them just to see. You can get some in the Mary Maxim catalogue/

[sherry-lenox]

When I got interested in playing, I had a persistent pain disorder, and my hands and arms were part of the package.

I knew I wanted and needed top notch instruction, and got it. I explained to my teacher at our first meeting that I would be attempting to do whatever was necessary to play “correctly” and would tell her if there was something she expected me to do that I couldn’t do.

Now a little over three years later I live almost entirely free from pain, and although I have a finger that hurts once in a while, I have no discomfort when playing and sometimes have to ask my teacher to lower the boom and be tougher on me.

I feel strongly that the distribution of endorphins in the system is positively connected to enthusiasm for the task and love of the product.

If i’m working on something especially challenging, I can drill for a long time with no pain, and no pain after I’ve concluded a practice session.

A good teacher will never expect a student to do something that causes physical discomfort, and a committed enthusiastic teacher will work with a student, especially an adult, to find ways to compensate for problems and keep playing comfortably.

I think there is more risk in attempting to self teach than in taking lessons with a qualified teacher.

I’m betting if you love the harp and love to play it, you and a good teacher will be able to figure out a way for you to play that will result in more benefits than problems.

[patricia-jaeger]

Re fingerless gloves: on You Tube, Yo Yo Ma is wearing them while playing his cello outdoors in the snow, in one scene. Floradella Sacchi, virtuoso harpist from Italy, wore them when she played a formal recital in Seattle this year. That was indoors, in a chapel.

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