>In a message dated 1/7/99 12:10:39 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>
><< ide. My primary
> avocation, other than computer work, has been choral and vocal singing,
> which have led to pain, so I've been forbidden from pursing that. >>
>Jon -
>Why / how does singing lead to pain?
>
>Joanna (hand/wrist pain, considering singing as alternative career)
>

        Based on personal experience, the experience of my treating doctor, and
the observation of a Feldenkrais practitioner:

        1) If I am reading music, holding it in my hands, I raise my shoulders or
bend my neck toward the music, or both. Either tends to compress the
vertebrae/disks in my neck. This leads to thumb/wrist/forearm pain, and
then to neck pain. This is worse in performance as concentration on
performance tends to make me tense up more and not remember to relax my
neck, etc., hold the music differently, etc.
        2) Using a music stand is very beneficial, but due to my old eyes, which
require bifocals, although it can be difficult for me to see (in focus) the
director and the music at the same time. When then can tend to make me bend
my neck, find and hold a position for minutes at a time without relaxing my
posture. Leading to result 1.
        Of course, if I've memorized all of my music, the two above problems are
removed. But memorizing a "masterwork" I've never even heard before is not
possible. And practicing on my own can bring on similar problems.

        3) Biggest deal: When I sing, I tend to find a position of my upper back,
neck, throat, mouth, etc., which feels right and hold that position.
Holding any position stiffly for very long leads to result 1.

        Performing on risers makes all of the above worse, and eliminates the
possibility of using a music stand.

        So that's my summary of what I've observed and experienced, what my
Feldenkrais practitioner has observed, and the experience of my doctor.
Doctor assumes that once I am in recovery that my neck will not be so
sensitive to these activities. But she can't predict how many more months
my "recovery" will take, or if, before my MRI, that there isn't any medical
problem which will require less conservative treatment.

        Does that make sense to you?