<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=windows-1250"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=702561902-02022005><FONT = face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Hello list,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=702561902-02022005><FONT = face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=702561902-02022005><FONT = face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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 </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=702561902-02022005><FONT = face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>1: that any energy put into the bottom of the = keystroke is wasted being spent on key felts and hand/arm instead of string.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=702561902-02022005><FONT = face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>2. think in circles(like bowing violin) rather = than straight up and down with effort going to starting and stopping</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=702561902-02022005></SPAN><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>Something else I do that was in&nb= sp;the journal a couple of months back&nbsp= ;is to turn your hand sideways <SPAN class=702561902-02022005>on the sharps </SPAN>striking them with the flesh of the&= nbsp;palm on your pinky side. This uses&nbs= p;opposing muscle groups that tend to balan= ce wear and tear<SPAN class=702561902-02022005>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT><FONT><SPAN class=702561902-02022005></SPAN><FONT = face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=702561902-02022005>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.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT = size=2><SPAN class=702561902-02022005>enough already...</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT = size=2><SPAN class=702561902-02022005>Fred Brown</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT = size=2><SPAN class=702561902-02022005>ATL GA </SPAN> </FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> Sarah Fox [mailto:sarah@graphic-fusion.com] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 01, = 2005 10:00 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Wrist Support<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi all,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sarah</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pianoman@accessus.net = href="mailto:pianoman@accessus.net">James Grebe</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 01, = 2005 7:42 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Wrist = Support</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=4>Have you tried playing or "pounding" = with your fingers rather than your wrist.  That is the way pianists do = intricate passages.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=4>Jim</FONT></DIV> <DIV>James Grebe<BR>Piano-Forte Tuning & Repair<BR>Creator of = Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, piano benches, writing instruments<BR>(314) 608-4137<BR><A = href="http://www.JamesGrebe.com">WWW.JamesGrebe.com</A><BR>1526 Raspberry Lane<BR>Arnold, MO 63010<BR>BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!<BR><A href="mailto:pianoman@accessus.net">pianoman@accessus.net</A></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=requiem31@hotmail.com href="mailto:requiem31@hotmail.com">Matthew</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 31, = 2005 7:38 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Wrist Support</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear List,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matthew Lavender</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR> No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.5 - Release Date: 1/26/2005<BR> </FONT> </P>