Author: vboboe
Date: 2008-07-24 04:36
... GAGA is 'way bedda than BAGG'ADA'
when i renewbie'd my left 3rd couldn't move independently, literally couldn't lift L3 at all to begin with, now it's got a good inch of independent lift
to see if this might be part of your problem, put palm of hand on flat surface, lift each finger by itself without moving any of the others, also note how high or low each finger can lift itself -- if other fingers have to lift to help another finger, remedial finger exercise required
That's one problem, here's another
with age -- or disuse -- the tendency is for the tendons in palm of hand to shrink, tighten up and curl fingers more towards the palm -- you young 'uns shouldn't be running into this problem, but after mid life gradual shrinkage of the palm tendons becomes a significant obstacle to fast finger work if they're not being exercised every day
to play oboe, those inside palm tendons need to be long and elastic
to permit the fingers to lift upwards -- backwards -- at the knuckles while they're curved over the keys
to find out if this might be part of your problem, hold hands straight upwards in front of your line of vision, and see how far back from vertical the fingers can stretch backwards, feel the burn topside of the hands
If you can't move them backwards at all -- remedial needed
20 degrees would be really flexible already, 30-40 degrees is elastic-band
Remedial exercises that helped me are
Finger lifts -- those that move independently already, ignore for this exercise, with palm on flat surface manually raise and lower the weak finger/s with the other hand as far as comfortable, hold the stretch, lower, repeat several times, every day and then do oboe exercises
After a while the weaker fingers will start working by themselves
The other thing that really helps loosen up tight hands is hand massage (rotations in palm of hand all over, from wrist up to base of fingers, to warm up the hands first) and then do finger moves, rotating each finger in one direction 6x, then other direction 6x, then flexing each finger back and forth 6x at the lower knuckle joints (and put more emphasis on the upward flexion), and 3-6x each joint of every finger, and finish at the fingertip joint each time. Remember to include the thumbs. Easy to schedule while watching the daily news or a movie.
To stretch the palms
Palms together in prayer position, press fingers backwards with fingers of other hand as far as comfortable, hold the stretch, release, repeat with other hand. Back and forth many times. Always keep base of fingers inside palm together while doing this and of course each finger in full contact with its opposite finger.
The other palm stretcher is to spread all fingers & thumbs, place fingertips together, and press fingers together until they meet at the inside palm knuckles -- warning, this really burns, so warm up with massage or the 'prayer' stretch first
At some future time, fingers will be able to move backwards a good angle by themselves, mission accomplished
One of my oboe teachers told me to shake and flap my hands vigorously from the wrists, and although that helps a bit, i found hand massage with finger rotations -- takes 10-15 minutes to do a good thorough job of it -- loosens up my hands the best of all
Try the difference with and without -- it's amazingly good for older hands -- you younger folks, let us know if it makes any difference at all for you
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