Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.bowed-strings Subject: Re: Back Pain Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 07:19:02 GMT >I am looking for advice on how to alleviate back pain while playing. I >study violin and have a hard time sitting through reahearsals. I don't >have any problems when I stand: only when I sit. Does anyone have any >advice? I'm kind of worried because I'm only 19 and I'm wondering about >what'll happen when I get older. Any suggestions? I'm a chiropractor, play the violin in the local college orchestra, and I have the same problem. The best solution I have found to date is to bring a thin pillow to put behind my mid-lower back to give a little more support. The chairs we use are horrible and I bet yours are too. You could always purchase your own chair. Another solution is to sit back as far as you can in your chair to put some counter pressure on the back. This may not go over real well depending on how laid back or formal your rehersals are. Sometimes I'll even cross my leg over my knee if we have a particularly long session. Periodically shifting your sitting position helps. Other than that start working out to strengthen your back muscles. Good luck. Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.bowed-strings Subject: Re: Back Pain Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 10:02:21 -0400 Try standing most of the time. My lessons are all done standing and I often practice while standing. When I sit, which is about half the time, I try to sit with a standing posture from the hips up. Moving with the music also helps. The back muscles need to move a bit to help them stay relaxed. When you don't move tension is likely to creep in unnoticed. Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.bowed-strings Subject: Re: Back Pain Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 15:56:19 -0700 You may want to consult a Alexander Technique Teacher to have your posture checked. It often turns out that certain little misbehaviors in sitting or standing habits of the individual do course pain when beeing combined with the elaborate demand to support playing a string instrument. There are books out there about Alexander Technique, so you can inform yourself first. My experience is that a Teacher in that technique who is aware of the problems musicians have, will cause a general benefit. In many music schools out here there are such courses available. I hope it helps at least a little, Regards from Cologne, Germany, Ronald