Monster Headaches....

[TVR1]

As I’ve been a bit bored and daughter wanted a ‘piano’ I bought a really nice keyboard. She plunked along and then , the past few days when she’s been at Mums, I thought Id gave a go myself. Downloaded Simply Piano and I’m just doing some basics.

Finger muscles (do we even know we have them?) are aching but the worst is the headache. Is my brain just finding a part of itself that hasn’t been used in years? (I used to play flute very well at age 8-13) I’m 51 now.

Or am I having a stroke!

Anyone had this experience, trying to learn something new, like this?

I’ll add, I was good at reading music. Piano got past me but it seems like a good time to try.

1 hours practice gives me 3 hours headache

[guillemot]

Have you had your eyes checked recently? Second question is how tense are your shoulders/upper back when you play? Sometimes we find ourselves leaning in to focus if perhaps stool/keyboard isn’t at quite the right height/distance and that can sometimes cause issues.

Edited by guillemot on Tuesday 9th February 22:17

[TVR1]

guillemot said:

Have you had your eyes checked recently? Second question is how tense are your shoulders/upper back when you play? Sometimes we find ourselves leaning in to focus if perhaps stool/keyboard isn’t at quite the right height/distance and that can sometimes cause issues.

Edited by guillemot on Tuesday 9th February 22:17

I’ve had both eyes done recently so waiting ‘till they settle down to have correct prescriptions made up. You’re correct about the posture, I think. Feels like shoulders and back have been put in a vice after 1 hours practice. A little bit of frustration sets in too. I want the sight reading to come back, as it was when I played the flute. Sounds like you play?

[guillemot]

Yes, also teach. Don’t rule out the eyes if they’re ‘settling’ - where we want the music can be just in the wrong place sometimes. Have a look at this re posture, it may shed some light. It’s formatted for a grand because Yamaha but you’re still looking for the relaxed arm/shoulder interaction with the correct height of stool(or indeed chosen seat)/keyboard for your shape and height.

https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide...

If I can help with anything give me a shout!

Edited by guillemot on Wednesday 10th February 20:36

[Derek Smith]

For lockdown, from the second one onwards, I decided to learn some new software that was of no practical use. I opted for Blender, the free 3D modelling tool. I've been a bit of a computer nerd since my first home computer, a ZX81. I kidded myself, I've since discovered, that I could learn any software in a couple of months.

I struggled a bit at first (I'm still struggling) to understand the basics, and bought a home course, described at the 'Encylopedia'. With that, I began to understand what it was all about.

It took over my life, and my first animation took around three weeks to complete, working for five hours a day. It took over my life to an extent, taking up all my reading matter. I even dropped off using PH.

I developed carpel tunnel syndrome in one hand. My shoulders frequently ached so much that I had to sit in a chair with arms rests. It's not only physically demanding, but my brain proved unequal to the task. I too suffered from headaches. It was addictive, so I carried on. I slept badly.

I decided to justify all this time by using Blender for captions of my videos. A rough one is here, which I posted as an example of a specific problem I could not overcome. There are so many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd33F3u-PUU

I think something new is a test for brains that are no longer flexible, and I've become a believer in the Homer Simpson doctrine: every time I learn something new, it forces out something old from my brain.

Stick with it. It'll get worse.