2012/11/23 13:48:24
Beepster
I developed an entire series of exercises to unglue my fingers and maximize my reach and accuracy. It was a LOT of work but so worth it. Once up to spped it's about 15-20 minutes of straight up exercises, then a short break, then 20 minutes of scales and arpeggios. I spent almost two years doing that every couple of nights and it restored my speed/agility closer to when I was 18 (I was a crazy shredder back then) and solidified my knowledge/muscle memory to the point I don't really have to think much about where to go next while improvising. I have full control of the fretboard now whereas before I was limited to a few specific patterns and positions.
2012/11/23 18:10:12
dmbaer
Here's another technique that might help ... although a disclaimer is in order.  I had half way decent chops 40 years ago when I used to practice daily, but that's ancient history.
 
Anyway, here goes.  For any passage you're having difficulty with, alter the tempo and introduce a swing rythm while playing slow enough that you make few mistakes.  In other words, eighth notes become dotted 16th followed by 16th followed by dotted 16th ...
 
Or, reverse the "swing" so the 16th notes come first followed by the dotted 16ths.
 
For some reason, this can loosen up your tension when playing in the correct rythm.  I found it worked on all sorts of things ... even Beethoven sonatas.
2012/11/29 19:30:08
marcus3
Thanks everyone. But in all honstley i did everything said above for years. I don't have problem with muscle memmory and I can sight read and play on time. I could play 32nd notes possible 64th and 128th.

The problem is in the forearm my cebral palsey effects it.
I'm spose to have splints with weights on the pressure points to help relax the muscle. But my doctor is idioit! 

If any one know how I can use Ace bange, apply weight, massage the pressure points or any other ideas I appreciate it.  Thanks

P.s while typing this my forearm is feeling tired due to cp.
and for anyone who don;t what cp dose it tightens my muscles so there never relax.  And streches don't work just makes them worse. thanks 
2012/11/29 19:58:19
guitartrek
marcus3 - If it's a CP thing then its hard for most of us to relate to and suggest ways of improving.  Having said that - there is one alternative (to typical medical practices) to help repair brain activity that is very effective.  It is referred to as Neural Reorg (NR).  This program is amazing.  A good example: after a man had a stroke, he lost control over his legs (due to brain damage) and doctors told him he'd never be able to walk again.  After Neural Reorg he gained all normal functions over his legs.  Ater he died they opened up his brain (his request) and noticed that the part of the brain that was damaged, was still damaged.  But the brain had grown new tissue around the damaged part to restore the lost functions.

NR has been known to get rid of mild Autism.  Also helped a man (now a NR practitioner) recover severe epilepsy.   I don't know if NR can repair CP, but it's worth a shot.  I'll give you this man's website should you want to check into this phenomenal program. 
http://activehealing.org/HTML/home.htm

I am not affiliated with this guy in any way, but know about this program and have seen it in action. 
2012/11/29 21:40:07
marcus3
They told me same when I was baby also told me I'm going die. Yet I'm walking talking and living. But awesome about that guy. Thanks my parents tried keep me active I worked out 4 years did pushups,curls twice day. I can't run though cause got server asthma.

That understandable some people though made me feel bad myself tell me "well your not serious that I'm just looking for excuse not to practice". 
Which not true! I played over 4 years doing scales chords and playing tunes. I have perfect posture perfect wrist movement. I can play songs scales eyes closed. 


2012/11/29 22:42:59
guitartrek
Good luck Marcus.  Keep up the good work and the positive attitude!
2012/12/02 10:40:17
Beepster
Well, Marcus... I'm certainly not one to say give up but as I've learned in my own life sometimes certain things just aren't possible. For example, I'll probably never be able to play drums like I used to and it would be foolish of me to try because there is a good chance I could seriously injure myself. Now I put together drum parts on my padKontrol and it works fine. Not as fun but it does the job. 

I've never heard of Hanons but to me it sounds like if you have tried everything you can to make it happen and it's still causing you pain you may just want to avoid that set of exercises. If you can play and create music you enjoy already I'd focus on that. Finding alternate solutions to achieve the end result you want is not giving up. That is part of living with a disability. The point is being creative enough and having enough strength/will to find those alternate solutions and not let your limitations get you down. Many times having to find those different paths is a gift in the sense your method is unique and the product is more original and creative than something that has been put together using the status quo.

If your teachers or peers are giving you a hard time and trying to force you or shame you into doing something that is causing you physical pain and injury you have to put your foot down and say NO. People want to be encouraging and buy into the notion that all obstacles can be overcome and as nice as that sentiment is sometimes it is counter to reality. Do what is right for you, not what others think is right for you.

Good luck.
2012/12/02 14:00:01
offnote
drop Hanon because Hanon sucks same as Czerny. Get your technique playing music,
and the best music for that is Bach inventions. I the beginning  short warm up with scales and passages
and then go straight to real music. Etudes are meant for training not soulless exercises.
Life is too short for wasting for half solutions. I did that mistake in my youth playing bull$hit for hours
forgetting why and what for I actually play piano.   



2012/12/09 13:04:04
Janet
Beepster, if it's not too crazy, would you be able to explain that set of exercises you mentioned?

Not sure I'd be able to last that long each day due to other pains, but I'm ready to get out of the old patterns, like you mentioned.  
2012/12/09 14:49:34
sharke
There are some weightlifting gloves that provide tendon support that are also supposed to be useful for musicians who experience pain. You can find them here: 

http://www.newgrip.com/musicians.html

I'm thinking of getting myself some because I have tendon problems in my arms due to years of playing classical guitar. 
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