Why There’s Pain
Back in LA sitting at my favorite Westside coffee house, ‘the Conservatory’ – how appropriate. Just downed the most potent triple espresso on the planet.
Today I’ll be sitting in the hot seat for a film called ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, composer Alexander Deplat. Don’t know a thing about the film, yet, but I do know that French born Desplat is an exacting musician with an incredible ear for detail.
For the orchestra this means a day of many, many interrupted takes. If he has a short coming it is that he sometimes loses the forest for the trees, if you know what I mean.
Though the results often sound very clean and tidy, the problem with such a work method is that the players aren’t able to ‘stay warm.’
Imagine driving a car one or two blocks, turning it off for a couple minutes, restarting it, driving another block, shutting it down, etc., etc,.
Such treatment is as hard on a car as it is on a player. On days such as this I will use our 10-minute breaks to stretch and clear out the inevitable lactic acid buildup. The most sure sign of such accumulation is a burning sensation in a specific area.
Speaking of lactic acid, a couple days ago one of my ‘Beginner’s Circle’ members wrote it about just such pain he behind his bowing shoulder. He wants to know whether it’s normal and what he can do about it.
There are a few things that come to mind.
First, though, he should know that even with the best playing habits in the world, an ache here or there, now and again, is to be expected. After all, the violin IS a physical process and will produce a certain amount of stress on the body.
Yet sometimes just acknowledging the discomfort, taking a moment to relax and shake out the affected area is enough. End of story.
If the pain persists, grows stronger, or begins to ‘refer’ – radiate – it’s time to pay closer attention.
Violin playing is very asymmetrical. It’s important, to stretch and use neglected muscle groups to keep the body in balance.
If, as in the case of my friend, the pain comes up predictably and has the hallmark ‘burning’ characteristic of lactic acid buildup, I would suggest beginning the practice session with some gentle shoulder rotations to warm-up and stretch the shoulder muscles.
Nothing hard or vigorous, mind you, easy does it, in this case.
And even after beginning to play I suggest continuing to take frequent, short breaks to ‘free up’ the shoulder. It just may be all that’s needed.
Now, when pain becomes chronic, it’s time to get help. A good physical therapist or chiropractor can often work miracles, in my experience. Often they know simple, effective little exercises for specific muscles, our their opposites, than can turn things around very quickly.
The important thing is to pay attention when pains creep up and take action as early as possible to address them.
Of course sound fundamentals are important to have. Proper breathing is also essential to helping the body process inevitable lactic acid buildup in the muscles.
And if you have any question as to what proper breathing is, you can get that question answered in spades with Dynamic Breath Control for Violinists. That handy little DVD is available for little more than a song.
All the best,
Clayton Haslop
P.S. Now, players who’ve ‘been around the block’ a few times, may want to jump in with both feet. Paganini for Violin Virtuosity, Vol. 1 is an invaluable practice tool for those wanting real ‘chops’. Go have a look.
