Happy New Year!

It has been a year of injury and annoyance for me. But there have also been some amazing things that have happened this year! I've had to delay auditions and stop playing violin for about a week or more at a time. If you can stretch and keep your body in tip top shape, you'll really benefit as a musician. And I don’t know, THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR MUSCLES ALL THE TIME.... You would think I would learn that maybe a fire arms class, an intense lesson, practicing and a workout would probably exacerbate an old injury. 🙄 I can still teach and play a bit but every day it gets better. It all kind of started right after the hurricane. Which I still can’t even talk about yet. Houston has definitely suffered but we are pulling together and getting though it all!


That all being said, I have to figure out how to stop over working my left wrist. I have apparently been twerking it in a weird way that it hurts so much I have to stop playing. Now that I am done playing for the holiday season, I can think more about my movements and everything I am doing that causes the pain. I took the last few days off and have noticed a few things about my technique that make things a bit better. Do any of my musicians friends have any good stretching techniques or tips other than stop playing? That’s just not an option. I have an audition in the middle of February and I cannot see myself doing it if this pain doesn’t stop. I will try Tiger balm and Kinesio Tape tonight. Even after a couple hours of teaching (not even full on playing or practicing) the muscles in my wrist and arm are inflamed.
I have a book called “Playing (Less) Hurt” by Janet Horvath. I’ve heard amazing things about this book and it’s finally time to read it! (I’ve had it since 2011 🤦‍♂️)


That all being said, I’ve finally figured out that my wrist has just been working too hard. I usually do wrist vibrato and I love my vibrato. NowI have to change it up a bit and do arm vibrato to let me wrist heal a bit. I’ve also realized that my fingers love to fly off of the fingerboard dramatically when I am playing. I think it’s a habit I picked up playing mostly Celtic music growing up.
I do love watching my idols and friends play and studying their technique. Almost all of my idols growing up fit wrist vibrato and I remember learning it in 7th grade.
So friends and colleagues, what type of vibrato do you do and How have you had to reshape your technique to help your muscles and playing?


Happy 2018!! Obviously my resolution is to practice more and be more aware of my playing to not overwork my wrist as well as a few other personal things.
Working out more (I already fail that on the first day of the new year) 🤔
Cooking more
Saving money
Spending more time with my puppy
Singing more (I secretly want to be a backup dancer/ singer)
Being a happier and nicer person
Drive less
Getting more rest


What are some of your resolutions?