Great idea! I will have to remember that. Very nice video.

I gave 5 lessons today and my left hand is not in good shape after playing along with my students. It will be hard in the fall when I get back to a full teaching schedule.

Robert, I'll second what Chicory has said here.

I purchased my piano in 2005 after I had a diagnosis of focal dystonia. This came after not playing or hardly playing for nearly year as I found I was more and more stiff, and had more and more coordination and hesitation problems. The neurologist said that things would get worse, and I had already started down the path of no return. Deep down inside I knew he was wrong, but not being a doctor, my PCP and others kept telling me he knew better, and I was crazy. I then went to another doctor a year later that proved to be the best thing in my life. It was with neuro two that my diagnosis was more affirmed and confirmed as not being FD, but more of an atypical PD. I then blew out more cash on my clavichord.

Anyway, the piano turned out to be my godsend. As frustrated as I was and I still get, I kept at it and after 6 months, I was back playing again. I played well enough before to not lose the techniqe completely, but I've lost enough never to have the real fascile playing I had.

I practiced piano exercises every day. I did the Schmitt finger independence exercises a few at a time slowly and with as relaxed hands as I could. If I fatiigued or tensed up, I'd stop. At first I got in probably no more than 10 minutes maximum. This was a far cry from my 2-plus hours every day plus 4-6 hours on a weekend. Evemtually I was up to 1/2 hour then an hour or two a day. Now I'm back to about 2-3 hours per day on a consistent basis. This is now 4 years later.

The thing is, you are going to suffer from 100 steps backward, will want to toss the piano out the window, sell the guitar, and anything else to move as far away from your passion as possible. Even today I get very frustrated particularly when I want to play some of the more demanding keyboard literature such as piano sonatas by Beethoven (Even his easiest aren't so easy for me now), or some Chopin Etudes, which I could hardly play before let alone now.

The other thing I learned too is know your own limits. I believe I've said this before. I can't play the fast ferocious Etudes anymore or other really demanding concert pieces I was working on. I now have to play the slower, less challenging technically, but more lyrical pieces. These alone have proven to be plenty to do, and in some cases just as difficult. Not in the technical sense, but in the musical challenges they present. It really takes a whole lot of work to play slowly and to play with emotion that come of sincere and true to the music, and not contrived like a lot of pianists come across.

Anyway, don't give up on your passions. I learned the hard way that no matter what you try to do to divorce yourself from them, they will come back at you and drive you back to them no matter what.

Good luck,

John

Robert,
I second what John says, dont give up on your music. I am not a musician and may not understand the difficulties associated with that kind of pursuit. I understand the passion part. I absolutely love what I do, when I am totally into analysis and interpretation of my work, I forget PD, and I dont even remember to take meds. thats my Nirvana state!

I always used to say that I would be back in the lab to work even if I win a million $$$. At that time I never once contemplated what I would do if I cannot hold a pipette or afraid that I might drop the vial with virus! The reality of PD is: My fingers and fine moments are long gone and I am no good in the lab, but my passion is still therre and I know my limits now/ I try to make the best of it. For a brief period of time after PD diagnosis, I gave up my job , but could not stay away for too long, as John said it will come back to you. I am much happier now doing what I love, yes a little slower, not as well as before........but with more passion than ever before. The more I do, the easier its gettinng ......
Robert, Have you tried AZilect?

Good luck with meds and hope you can get back to music
girija

Twice this week I have talked to people who mention that PD can to an extent be bypassed by a passion for something they love, to the extent that time flies by with no awareness of PD or the passage of time! I think this is something significant, as is the dance that newcomer Bob mentions, and how practicing anything you love can bring some degree of improvement in an individual with PD. I can attest to that too...........if I am making art the absorbtion in the process of doing seems to overide physical symptoms, so I am unaware of them. (I then forget to take my meds and when my concentration is broken find myself 'stuck' in PDland again). If I get really absorbed in working on drawing or painting in the afternoon it helps with the dreaded daytime sleepiness. I am also one of the people for whom dance really does work, it is like the years have rolled back!

Given that non-motor symptoms of PD are tough to deal with, perseverance type behaviours common, depression high on the lists, and limitation one of our big frustrations, perhaps it is time to air what seems to be an antidote to some of the things we find hard.

I find stories of individual achievement very inspiring, especially when they are accompanied by a real love for the chosen activity. Thanks for this thread, John.

Perhaps it would be a good bit of primary advice, 'find something you really love to do, that absorbs your whole being, go for it, and really enjoy it ' at the beginning, before meds, as a way of keeping those neurons moving..........

Good luck with the teaching. Your left hand does a lot of work while you're playing and you pay for that later.

Does your hand get "twitty" and act stupid? This what mine do when I've over done it.

Is there a chance you could spread these lessons out over the day?

John

I wonder if this phenomenon of transient reversal of PD when your mind is focused on something you are passionate about is common among PWPs or just in some cases. The opposite effect is from stress. Most of us know and have experienced the negative effects of stress, with PD symptoms getting worse. This mind-body connection and the neuropsychology is another piece of PD puzzle. Has anyone talked to your doctor about it? How many of you had such experiences (both feeling great when you are doing something you love and the opposite when stressed)? It could be one of those things the doctor doesnt know and only a PWP knows!!

Girija