 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2012-06-14 05:40
At 73 years of age, I'm starting to have trouble reading music after a day of repairing woodwinds. I try to get as much light on my stand as possible, and have several sets of special close-up repairing glasses as well as music reading glasses. But, on the days when I repair, in the evening I struggle to define the notes. Are their some exercises or other ideas that can help keep me focussed? I don't want to give up either fixing or playing- it keeps me from acting my age!
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Author: Campana
Date: 2012-06-14 09:04
Hi. Could you manage with a very limited selection of sheet music on the days when your eyes are tired. If so, you could always reprint the music to a larger size.
2 methods that I can think of...
Scan and print at say, 125% or 150%. Sellotape the copies together so that all the music is shown and then take the resultant stuck together mish mash where it can be copied on A3 size paper.
Alternatively download the free "Cresendo Music Notation Editor" and copy selected pieces into it. These can then be printed out as large as you like. This way it stays at A4 size but just more sheets.
This latter method can be quite quick once you get used to the software as you can copy and paste repeating bars.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-06-14 09:07
Hmmmm........
Sounds like you don't use prescription glasses (?). If not, this will be a BIG help. Until recently I had literally dozens of 'readers' lying about of various strengths (the more recent ones were the larger numbers !!!) and didn't think I could live without any of them. After a 3 week adjustment period to script bifocals, I can't understand why anyone would want more than one pair of glasses (except for computer distance of course).
As you get older your eyes' lenses become stiffer and less able to bend to the will of your eye muscles..........no exercise will counter this.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-06-14 09:25
Besides, it is not uncommon to have irregularities in the cornea. No amount of of will or drugstore reading glasses can overcome this - you need prescription glasses.
--
Ben
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Author: Campana
Date: 2012-06-14 09:43
I missed the most obvious and easiest way to print out larger size music (an age thing). Scan the top half of a page at magnification and print in Landscape. Then do the bottom half.
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Author: Randall
Date: 2012-06-14 14:22
I'd suggest an eye exam. Might be time for prescription glasses. RC
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-06-14 14:27
I'd suggest getting a referral from your MD to an eye specialist. You want to make sure your eye is healthy. You may need prescription lenses, but you also want to check for any degenerative conditions that may have to be addressed.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2012-06-14 16:15
Perhaps I wasn't clear on my post....I do have prescription bifocal glasses for my repair work and a different set of prescription glasses set to focus at two feet distance for reading music. All these work fine when my eyes are not tired- but still I have difficulty after a day of repairing. I'm hoping someone is aware of some kind of eye exercise that might improve the eye muscle strength so I can focus properly for a longer period.
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Author: Sarah M
Date: 2012-06-14 17:31
Hello,
I am not a frequent poster on this BBoard, but this is definitely a topic where I thought I could pitch in my 2 cents. A fellow by the name of Dr. William Bates from the early 1900s did a lot of research on vision and how to relearn to see naturally without glasses. This is actually possible!!!!! My father has actually followed the method suggested by Bates and has significantly improved his vision. I myself actually have better than 20/20. Blurry vision is caused by stress, by not using our eyes correctly, by holding tension in ways for which the eye wasn't "designed". Learning how to use our eyes correctly allows us to relax and return to clear vision. This method has been able to help those of all ages and those of all levels of poor vision (including people who are almost or completely blind).
If you Google you will find lots of information (use keywords like "Natural Vision Improvement", "The Bates Method," "Natural Vision Education" "Relearning to See Naturally" etc.). There are two books that I highly recommend (1) Perfect Eyesight Without Glasses by William Bates (2) Relearning to See by Thomas Quakenbush.
One simple thing that you can do to aid "tired" eyes is called "Palming": To palm is to cover your closed eyes with your hands in such a way that there is no pressure on your eyeballs. The palms of your hands are slightly cupped over each eye (left over left and right over right), and usually the fingers are partly interlaced on your forehead.
There should be no light, or as little as possible, allowed to enter the eye. Once you are palming, open your eyes and look around to see if you can adjust your hands in such a way as to exclude as much light as possible. Close your eyes. Stay in this position for as long as you want....10 - 20 minutes is suggested, but longer if you can. Release your thoughts of the day and just focus on the breath going in and out of your body (kind of like you would do in a yoga meditation). After your are finished open your eyes and remove your hands. Sometimes you will notice a huge difference in your vision, other times small.....but it definitely helps.
Note:
Palming is supposed to be relaxing, but you may end up being tight in your hands and arms in order to exclude light. Don't overdo it, and if necessary compromise. The next time you palm you may find a better position for the hands. Palming in a darkened room can be helpful.
Without making this post any longer than it already is....if anyone has more questions feel free to message me off the board.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-06-14 19:09
As a repairer myself, and right in your age group too, I can recognise your symptoms well.
I suggest one thing that can help is to take frequent breaks when repairing to look up and away from the bench, preferably through a window at some very distant object.
This can help prevent the eye muscles from getting rigidly set in close-up mode and as noted in earlier post these muscles do lose flexibilty with age and so making focus adjustments takes progressively longer.
My workshop (attached to my house) equipment is spread between two locations and so I regularly have to get up and move between them. Not really efficient I grant but I think the enforced changes help eliminate the symptoms for me.
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Author: valoboe
Date: 2012-06-14 20:22
I am a retired optometrist. The rest breaks while doing repairs so far is the best advice you received. When working up close your eyes must focus as well as triangulate inward and this involves muscular effort. The most restful thing you can do is look far away (at least 20 feet) for a few minutes every 30 minutes or so. If you held one tool and used it all day doing repairs, your hand and fingers wouldn't work well when you play your instrument for the same reason. Muscles need to have a break. Also when we are concentrating on something visual, we blink much less and dryness can also be an issue. You might also want to try some artificial tears. Even if your eyes aren't feeling gritty and uncomfortable, dryness can fog up your vision somewhat. Most 73 year old eyes have some degree of dryness - the same is true for the skin. As we get older, the lens and cornea are not clear and glare becomes more of an issue. Try experimenting with different lights and angles to see if that helps.
If rest breaks, moisturizing, and addressing glare doesn't solve your problem check back with your eye doctor to see if your music glasses need upgrading and to make sure your eyes are healthy.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-06-14 21:44
> When working up close your eyes must focus as well as triangulate inward
> and this involves muscular effort.
This is exactly what I was thinking about. When focussing a near object, both eyes start triangulating (while when focussing an object in infinity they "stare" parallel). It's not just the "focussing" muscle that gets tired (that's what we use reading glasses for), but rather the muscles that operate both eyes' triangulation get "locked" somehow in that "object at 2ft distance" mode.
So yes, do stand up, look out of the window, and focus an object in infinite distance - a tree, a rock, a cloud - every so often. If remote objects are blurred (and remain blurred even if you close or cover one eye), then you need a new prescription. Else it's that triangulation effect you're experiencing, and that can only be cured with aforementioned relaxation technique.
(my day chore involves staring at computer screens, with exactly the symptoms you describe, and while glasses help with the sheer distance, only breaks will help you get rid of the "target lock" symptom.)
--
Ben
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2012-06-15 15:21
Thanks for the suggestions, folks.....I'll give the rest breaks and dark sessions a try. I'll let you know how well these simple fixes work.
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2012-06-15 20:53
As a medical doctor with a postgraduate diploma in ophthalmology my advice is to get a referral to an ophthalmologist ASAP, and avoid "exercises" at all costs.
Alan.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-06-15 22:23
alanporter wrote:
> As a medical doctor with a postgraduate diploma in
> ophthalmology my advice is to get a referral to an
> ophthalmologist ASAP, and avoid "exercises" at all costs.
> Alan.
>
By far one of the COOLEST answers I've seen on the board about a medical problem! I see the "go see a doctor" answers, but to see it from someone who is a doctor in that exact field! Priceless!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-06-18 15:36
I get a lot of pieces from IMSLP that print out on 8-1/2 x 11 paper and are hard to read.
I've transcribed those to Finale, adjusted the line spacing and page turns and printed them out. This is followed by days of checking to get rid of all the errors I've made.
In the end, I can read the stuff --with my prescription music reading glasses.
I am going to take advice offered above TODAY and drag a bunch of stuff to the copy center for enlargement.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-06-19 20:13
I took a stack of sheet music for our WW5 to Staples today. One piece in particular was a problem: a compact 8-1/2 x 11 Danzi quintet from IMSLP.
The tech showed me how to scale up the letter size print out to 11 x 14.
Wonderful. I then had a whole stack of readable sheet music for under $5.
I did a little trimming, of the 11 x 14 sheets (paper cutter helps), and some taping together of edges to finish things off. (14-inch high sheets hang out the top of the music folio.
No problem with Staples arguing about the legality of copying copyrighted material.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-06-19 20:34
One can also increase the page print size on IMSLP by changing the printer properties from the default 97% to 102% or so, giving a 5% larger page.
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