This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hello list, Sarah is right about the tendons sliding back and forth being what irritates them. Take it from a former soccer coach who often prescribed rest to teenage players with achilles tendon problems. I have made a pounder using crutch tips that you find in any hardware store and about a 4" x 1/2" brass dowell inserted into the tips(Susan Graham or Kline). I use a small crutch tip inside of a larger one for the side that fits in my palm and just a small one for the end that strikes the keys. Movement is from the elbow and is with the arm relaxed letting the weight of the tool do the work(ie arm just falls to key from maybe 6" up). Virgil Smith teaches 1: that any energy put into the bottom of the keystroke is wasted being spent on key felts and hand/arm instead of string. 2. think in circles(like bowing violin) rather than straight up and down with effort going to starting and stopping Something else I do that was in the journal a couple of months back is to turn your hand sideways on the sharps striking them with the flesh of the palm on your pinky side. This uses opposing muscle groups that tend to balance wear and tear. I only use a wrist brace if and when I have done damage to wrist(last time was with a ratchet working on car) and have to tune through a day. I personally wouldn't use brace on a regular basis thinking that it would tend to weaken the joint over the long term. enough already... Fred Brown ATL GA _____ From: Sarah Fox [mailto:sarah@graphic-fusion.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 10:00 AM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: Wrist Support Hi all, Just a suggestion: To keep from working the tendons in the wrist, perhaps it would be best to hold the wrist and finger(s) firm and "pound" lightly with the entire forearm. Any flexure of the wrist or fingers causes those tendons to slip back and forth, which is what irritates them. Making some sort of soft "pounding" device to be held in the hand is an excellent idea. Peace, Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: HYPERLINK "mailto:pianoman@accessus.net"James Grebe To: HYPERLINK "mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"Pianotech Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 7:42 AM Subject: Re: Wrist Support Have you tried playing or "pounding" with your fingers rather than your wrist. That is the way pianists do intricate passages. Jim James Grebe Piano-Forte Tuning & Repair Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, piano benches, writing instruments (314) 608-4137 HYPERLINK "http://www.JamesGrebe.com"WWW.JamesGrebe.com 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! HYPERLINK "mailto:pianoman@accessus.net"pianoman@accessus.net ----- Original Message ----- From: HYPERLINK "mailto:requiem31@hotmail.com"Matthew To: HYPERLINK "mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"Pianotech Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 7:38 PM Subject: Wrist Support Dear List, I am contemplating getting some type of support brace for my pounding hand and was wondering what any of you 4-5 tunings-a-day people use to reduce wear and tear on your hand(s). One way I've been able to reduce pounding damage is by learning to tune with my opposite hand: not only does it reduce stress on my limbs but it also increases my tuning speed so that I don't have to shift position at either end of a grand; I just switch hands if I need to. I've also gotten a more ergonomic tuning lever. Even by doing that I still feel discomfort in my hands, especially after a heavy day of tuning. If anyone has any suggestions, a brand name to try or if it's better to see a specialist about this sort of thing, I eagerly await your post. Matthew Lavender -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.5 - Release Date: 1/26/2005 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/31/7b/1f/33/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC