As much as I don't like to admit it, I have playing related pain issues. I used to consider this a huge weakness, and hated the idea of any type of neckstrap, or instrument support. I convinced myself that they "tied me down" and that they weren't really necessary anyway. I was so stupid back then!
The damage began when I was in my final year of college, preparing for my final recital and grad school auditions had me practicing up to 4 hours a day, and in some cases, definitely over-practicing (I tended to do that A LOT!). A lot of the damage, however, was done while I was in San Francisco at grad school. It was my first time living totally alone, and as I spent most of my time alone- I felt guilty if I wasn't doing something oboe related. So I would go on oboe "binges" that would last an entire, full day of scraping, playing oboe, playing English horn, repeat. So not good for my right hand and arm. It got to the point where my thumb would go totally numb and tingle kind of like when you foot falls asleep. Again... NOT GOOD!
I received a lot of benefit from weekly acupuncture sessions, which just got me thinking about my body more in general which sometimes (ok a lot of the time) I take for granted.
Since those days, I have taken to playing for much shorter periods at a time, and reminding myself not to "hold" my oboe and put that strain on myself if I am not playing, this is mostly for teaching. I have an awesome English horn peg that kind of works like a cello peg, from Forrests that is a lifesaver. Still remaining, has been what to do with the oboe??? I hate neckstraps, but that is just me, I feel unrelaxed and uncomfortable whenever I have used one (yea I am difficult!).
Stephen Caplan first introduced me to this amazing contraption and I am been coveting it ever since. The thumbrest redistributes the weight of the oboe so that it feels like you wouldn't believe it could feel to play the oboe. If you have any type of pain issues due to playing this thingy is a MUST. I plan on purchasing it and having it installed(!) on my oboe before the end of the summer. The "installation" is the main thing that has kept me from doing it sooner, a repair technician must drill into the back of the oboe in order to attach it. As an uppity little oboist, I worried about doing something so permanent to my instrument, however, after consideration... this is sooo worth it.
In other news, all is pretty quiet on the Western front. I am really proud of the majority of my students as they continue to work this summer. I am so so very excited to be back at Phantom for a string of shows this week starting Friday. SO FUN! And when I come back from vacation (an Alaskan cruise with my Mom and Sister) I get to be the oboe instructor at the Las Vegas Academy Band Camp. Yay Oboe auditions, sectionals, and clinics!
I owned and used one for a while, but eventually it became "a pain" (pun intended). Good luck on your search for relief
ReplyDeleteI have these monster hands that rarely have issues for some reason, but I have a few students whose hands are smaller, so I finally purchased the W.R.I.S.T. to try. It's fantastic! A friend who does have hand issues purchased it and thinks it's very good. It works for both oboe & English horn. I used it for EH once not because of my hands but because it sort of made me feel more "stable" on low notes. You could give it a go ... but it's not cheap! http://www.chicagoreedcompany.com/wrist.html
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