Articles on Musical Instruments | Topics: instruments, instrument
by Zachery Acevedo
When a musician plays any type of instrument, the posture is extremely important. If you hold the instrument in an incorrect position or sit and stand at an odd angle this will affect not only the tone produced but it will also affect your muscles and the tension you place upon them. You want to enjoy your instrument and performing and if you are sitting or standing incorrectly and experiencing pain then the enjoyment level becomes non-existent. Not only will the sound be poor but also you can actually harm yourself and may find that you will no longer be able to play the musical instrument you love so much now.
The contour of the Mezzaluna bass guitar body is intended to improve ergonomics of the instrument, in particular to enhance hand position of the fretting hand and consequently reduce conditions that exacerbate tendonitis in that hand. It is difficult to sustain good hand position when playing in first position because the hand is far from the shoulder. Statistically, first position is where the majority of playing takes place. Musicians with long arms may need to adjust the strap a bit high to get good hand position in first position. The Mezzaluna bass design curves the upper horn near to the neck so that the strap button can be placed close to the neck shaft. This curved upper horn makes the instrument more secure and comfortable for women musicians.
The majority of people spend significantly more of their time practicing and rehearsing than they do performing. Bass guitar playing is done sitting down. For this reason, the ergonomics of the instrument ought to be developed for playing while sitting as well. Again, a near 45-degree neck attitude will result in best possible fretting hand position for most musicians.
Could it be an irritating ache in your thumbs, each time you practice at the piano? Possibly, there have been long rehearsals for that important recital, and now you observe stabbing pains in your forearms. Maybe you find yourself anxious with hands that have become gradually more clumsy, or numb. It may be that you are waking up at night with pain in your arms, back, or your neck.
Can you relate to any of the symptoms listed? Instrumental musicians are a unique risk group for repetitive motion injuries. Considerable percentages of musicians develop physical complications related to playing their instruments. If you use computers, your risks are complex and problematic.
Instrumental injuries many times include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, and several others. They are for the most part common among keyboardists, fretboardists, flute, and string players. However, the specific demands of different instruments generate other problems as well, including hearing loss or TemporoMandibular Joints Disorder (TMJ). Inaccurate posture, non-ergonomic practice, too much force, overuse, stress, and inadequate rest add to chronic injuries that can cause immense pain, disability, and the end of careers.
Although these problems are regrettably common, it is not an inevitable part of being a musician. If you are ready to listen to what is being discovered in the field of arts medicine, you may be able to avoid the possibility of occupational injury and recover your ability to play.
A few early symptoms to be on the lookout for:
A tickly feeling in the base of your thumbs, specifically when you wake up or push a shopping cart over a rough surfaces
Numbness, pins and needles in the hands or arms more pronounced at night
Spasms in the hand, wrist or arm when you do things such as reach for something or push open a door
Reduced touch feeling and/or pain in your finger tips
Even if you start to notice your hands or arms exist – thinking about parts of your body that you used to take for granted and not notice is something to be concerned about
| Historical Quote |
But when to mischiefmortals bend their will,
How soon they find fit instruments of ill!
| —Alexander Pope (1688–1744) |
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Some keys to avoiding injury:
Assess your technique
Always warm up
Pace yourself
Do not slouch
Take frequent breaks
Be aware of other activities that you do that may put you at risk
Pay attention to your body
Check out your instrument
Use an exercise/muscle stretching routine so that one set of muscles does not become inflexible and cramp up but be careful not to overdo these exercise.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "The Ergonomics of Instrument Playing" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by MusicInstrumentsCds.com. |
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