This week I decided to try to get back in practice on my violin. This is the first time I have tried to play since diagnosis.

My left arm hurts really badly. I can manage that with pain medication. The real problem is that it gets so weak after just a minute or two that I can no longer put the fiddle under my chin unless I use my right hand to help it along.

Are there any musicians here who can give me some pointers?

Sit at a card table - it's lower. Sit sideways so that your left elbow is supported by the table - put a small pillow or something under it so it doesn't hurt from the hard table. Use a good shoulder pad that gives lots of support like a Kun or Mach one. You can save your right arm for the bow and still maintain position. You'll have to stick to 1st position as you won't have your Left arm free to move around to do position work. A little is better than none at all. You can still do vibrato - been there and it's so hard. Best of luck - I know the emotional hurt from this is worse than the physical.

I had to give up the fiddle when I got MG. If you had ever heard me play the fiddle, you would know that this is not nearly as tragic as it sounds. For a while I played the mandolin instead, because it has the same tuning as a fiddle (so I didn't have to relearn the fingering for my tunes), but doesn't require arm and neck strength. That's an excellent solution for someone who likes folk music--maybe not so great for someone who's classically trained. I'm not very good at the mando, either.

If you are adventurous, you could explore some other ways of holding the violin:

http://www.learningfiddle.com/old-time-fiddling/

Best of luck,

Abby

I can't even make it through singing an entire song.

I hope you can figure out a way to keep playing. You've gotten some good suggestions!

Annie

THANK YOU! I have a KUN shoulder rest coming in tomorrow. I will try your suggestion with the table. I'm hoping against hope that I can build my arms up enough to play again.

I have been a musician for over fifty years and you are right. It's emotionally upsetting to find myself suddenly handicapped.

Thanks Abby! I play the mandolin too and have thought about just doing that but so far I really need to see if I can manage the violin. I've had some classical training (not nearly enough!) and this is what I want to try again now that I'm retired and have oodles of time to practice. I will check that link out. Thanks again for your input!

Similar situation here except it's with the fiddle. I can't make it through a single exercise without having to stop and rest. I'll never be an Isaac Stern or even an advanced student for that matter but I would like to be able to play moderately well. That's my goal anyway. Thanks for your response Annie.