Not able to play for a time - what do you do?

[Tavy]

So... I managed to take a big chunk out of my right thumb yesterday (put my hand right though the back of a porcelain bowl - could have been way worse than it was!), so no luthery or playing for me while I'm all bandaged (and stitched!) up

So what do you do when you're forced not to play for a time?

Already missing my daily practice yours, John.

[Padre]

you can always work with your left hand
you can slowly work with strocking the strings with your forefinger.
I do that when I'm watching TV and I don't want to be loud :-)

[neil argonaut]

If you get really bored you could restring your mandolin left handed and learn that way! You'll probably never get far enough to make it worthwhile for improving your playing in any way, but it would stop you missing your daily practice, plus you could have all the fun of being an absolute beginner (muscle wise not music / scales / etc wise) all over again.

Or learn another instrument that doesn't require the thumb, and broaden your musical horizons / see things from a different angle that way. Or practice your singing so that when you start playing again you can sing along better.

[250sc]

Listen to lots of music and plan what you want to work on next. Heal quick.

[Tim2723]

I'd advise putting down the mandolin and healing properly. Injuries of all sorts need tending if they're to pass quickly and without lasting affect. You'll be back and up to speed before you know it.

[Tavy]

Thanks everyone.

Tim: yes I will put down the mandolin for the time being, pretty much doing everything one handed at present, biggest challenge so far was cleaning my teeth left handed, now that's a real challenge for the non-ambidextrous of us!

Neil, I did think about singing, but I decided the neighbors wouldn't appreciate that, in fact I'm pretty sure I stick to instrumentals for a reason

[Tim2723]

I can put my teeth in the glass with either hand, but it wasn't that daily ritual which proved the challenge when I broke my right arm!!

[mandocrucian]

Hold the pick between your index and middle fingers. (Put a pencil or pen between those two fingers and write something; it's not physicallly hard.)

You can also brush your teeth similarly, using three fingers :

____M____
. I . . . . R

[Mark Robertson-Tessi]

Finger picks.

[Tim2723]

Finger picks can cause gum bleeding leading to gingivitis.

[Mike Snyder]

Precursor to banjoism, also.

[Mark Robertson-Tessi]

Correction then: Finger picks + floss + acquired allergy to excessively metallic objects.

[JeffD]

No don't push your healing. Think long term.

But in the interim listen listen listen. Play as many recordings of the music you go after, and during practice time, listen sitting forward.

Thats what I like to do.

[rico mando]

I am in a some what similar situation . I am building my own house and as I am not a builder I am not accustom to swinging a hammer and such all day I figure it is best to put my instruments down until the heavy work is done at the end of summer . this way i am hoping to avoid any serious tendinitis type injuries . So I am working on my singing when i have the energy . singing scales and tunes I play on the mandolin .

[JeffD]

So I am working on my singing when i have the energy . singing scales and tunes I play on the mandolin .

Thats a cool idea.

[Tim2723]

Correction then: Finger picks + floss + acquired allergy to excessively metallic objects.

Good, or you might end up with your teeth in a glass by the bed.

[Ed Goist]

I have a Neanderthal-like knowledge of theory and I can't read music, so when my tendonitis makes playing impossible I work on those. Oh, and I also try to critically ('paper and pencil critically') listen to lots of music.

[Randi Gormley]

Go dancing. Attend professional concerts and meet the artists. Go to a school concert. Visit a nursing home (make contacts for future gigs) and enjoy a good sunrise. And heal quickly.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Tavy - That's bad news.Several years back i has a forced 'banjoectomy' due to an op.for Trigger Finger (& thumb) on my left hand. It was 3 months before i could even begin to try to play. I just did a lot of listening to music & tried to divert my attention to other things,in fact anything to prevent me from trying my hand out too quickly. It's one thing to have an op.to put things right,but to make a mess of it & to have that put right,is a whole new ballgame !.Take it easy & let your hand recover fully,or pay the penalty which will be much worse, & take even longer,
Best wishes mate - Ivan

[Willie]

I had to stop playing when I joined the Air Force and was going through basic training and tech school, about 26 weeks altogether and when I finally got my hands on a mandolin I found that I had not forgotten what little I knew, so as stated above, let it heal properly, don`t rush it and you will find everything will fall into place in a short time back.....In the mean time try to familiarize your self with as many songs as you can by listening, and don`t give up the idea of singing, that takes practice also and this might be a very good time to get those vocal chords in tune...

Good luck, and heal fast.....

Willie

[Tavy]

Thanks everyone, good advice all.

I did think about taking up the kazoo.... but then I thought better of it, not much cache in being a kazoo virtuoso

[greg_tsam]

You can always work on hammer on and pull off exercises.

[Pipeous]

perfect time to learn harmonica. with one of the neck mounts you don't even need hands to play

[Pete Martin]

Sing!!!! very slowly what you want to learn. It is amazing what you can learn away from your instrument.

I couldn't play for about 3 years in the mid 90's (overuse injuries). I learned quite a bit of new material by singing out loud slowly what I wanted to learn. I now incorporate this into my regular practice schedule, also in the car.

[un5trung]

Various joint replacements have put me out of commission for long periods. I've read musical auto/biographies -- everyone from Yank Rachell to Rory Block -- and worked on music theory. Have patience -- you'll come out the other side!