Fil-Am Vets Rondalla
What is the best instrument for carpel tunnel sufferers?
I think I am developing carpel tunnel in my wrist because it become extremely tired (and a little sore) when playing piano. When I try tapping my left and right hand fingers, my left hand cannot keep up with my right at all. So is there another instrument I can play that is easy on the wrist?
I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands, very severe, and I had to give up playing the double keyboard organ, which I dearly loved. I kept looking for another instrument, but guitar didn’t work for me; neither did the Irish penny whistle or even the bodhran (Celtic/Irish drum). But, I found the bowed psaltery at Bristol Renaissance Faire and fell in love. The bow is of lightweight ash, so it’s easy to hold and use. You can place the instrument on your lap or a stand or support it with your other arm, which is what I do. It is so easy to learn, especially if you’ve had prior experience with an instrument such as piano or organ though it’s not lie either of them.
My psaltery is from Unicorn Strings and is so much better than most others of its kind. I’ll place some links for you as I find them. // I found them right away!
http://unicornstrings.com/
http://www.unicornstrings.com/whatisit.htm
You can see someone double-bowing here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pubx5Bupmks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpI3pffvQQ&feature=related
Unicorn Strings’ psalteries sound better than this, but it demonstrates the ease with which they can be played right away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODsKrB6TRQ&feature=related
If you can hum a tune or pick it out on a piano, you surely can play a psaltery. Even on days when my right hand is numb, I generally can play many songs though my left arm can stiffen due to fibromyalgia. People are inevitably fascinated by the sound of this instrument, the "voice" of which varies with the seasons and weather changes, from crystalline to "throaty".
2 Responses to “What is the best instrument for carpel tunnel sufferers?”
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December 5th, 2009
Posted by admin in instrument | 2 Comments »
This question might be better suited for the Music forum. For some silly reason, YA routed it to Movies. Good luck with it.
References :
I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands, very severe, and I had to give up playing the double keyboard organ, which I dearly loved. I kept looking for another instrument, but guitar didn’t work for me; neither did the Irish penny whistle or even the bodhran (Celtic/Irish drum). But, I found the bowed psaltery at Bristol Renaissance Faire and fell in love. The bow is of lightweight ash, so it’s easy to hold and use. You can place the instrument on your lap or a stand or support it with your other arm, which is what I do. It is so easy to learn, especially if you’ve had prior experience with an instrument such as piano or organ though it’s not lie either of them.
My psaltery is from Unicorn Strings and is so much better than most others of its kind. I’ll place some links for you as I find them. // I found them right away!
http://unicornstrings.com/
http://www.unicornstrings.com/whatisit.htm
You can see someone double-bowing here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pubx5Bupmks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpI3pffvQQ&feature=related
Unicorn Strings’ psalteries sound better than this, but it demonstrates the ease with which they can be played right away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODsKrB6TRQ&feature=related
If you can hum a tune or pick it out on a piano, you surely can play a psaltery. Even on days when my right hand is numb, I generally can play many songs though my left arm can stiffen due to fibromyalgia. People are inevitably fascinated by the sound of this instrument, the "voice" of which varies with the seasons and weather changes, from crystalline to "throaty".
References :