Geezer Question???

[happyrat1]

Not sure if this belongs in Technique and posture or General Keyboard.

I have a simple question that affects most, if not all, keyboard players sooner or later.

Maybe we should add a geezer forum and make this a sticky?

Sooner or later, if you are a keyboard player, your fingers will begin to fail you.

Be it arthritis, or carpal tunnel, or some other nasty form of "digitosis" (Tm Gary G. 2023 ) eventually we stop advancing in our craft and begin to slow down and begin regressing. (My thumb these days is making me far more sympathetic for Keith Emerson's demise. )

The question?

What have been your experiences with the ravages of old age, or injury and what sort of coping strategies have you used to extend your playing time.

For some of us, therapy is a costly option not covered by our foundering government.

Every thing is welcome here, though the mention of copper bracelets might draw a snicker or two.

Let's archive our experiences with what works and what does not.

Ian: Please make this one a sticky Thanks...

(Ironically, my keyboard time pretty much spans the lifetime of this forum

 

[m0trfinger]

Been playing piano or keyboards since the age of 5. I've come to the realization that my expectations exceed the physical realities of the aging of my hands.

Keeping fingernails trimmed and sanded along with using O'Keefe's Working Hands moisturizer on fingertips, always helps.

I try to "keep my claws sharp" every day @ least 30 minutes, stretching before I sit @ my rig before and during practice or shows.

Aspirin always helps too, but notice that my fingers/palms swell after playing 2-3 hour shows.

I'm in my mid 50's and this has worked, so far, for me.

 

[Biggles]

Its not just the fingers Gary.

Whilst it is my own fingers that caused me to switch from guitar to keyboard, a few years with tickling the ivories and the hands are still degenerating.

I’ll explain the issue which is worst with my left hand, my fingers, especially my third finger, were and are becoming deformed. The result was that barre chords on guitar are impossible and even fast runs up and down the neck got to sound pretty dire as my fingers stick due to the growths in the joints. Coupled with the sheer weight of the Gibson or Fender that played havoc with my back so the kit had to go.

The hands is why I like arrangers, limited finger movement of my left hand means all I can now really play with my left hand is triads, some chords are difficult as I do not have the finger span to effectively play them and the “sticking” third (finger) means sometimes I miss playing what I intended to play.

Playing simple exercises I firmly believe are helping to delay the inevitable deterioration that will occur, its a family trait so there is no avoiding it happening. The routine may be a tad boring but if it helps then its worth it.

Arthritis is not just a hand illness its a whole body thing, a botched up hip replacement operation have left me unable to sit at the keyboard for long, coupled with lower back osteoarthritis any controlled movement is difficult. An operation in the next couple of months will put be out of action for about three months and any activities will be very dependent on how my recouperation goes.

Strategies.

Finger/hand exercises, using one of the string hand squeeze products help to keep joins mobile.

Keyboard, exercises to maintain fluidity in playing and stick to it two or three times a day for 15 minutes each session.

Whole body exercise, for me specifically aimed at back mobility ie the cat exercise in Yoga, plus Tai Chi.

Walking the dog, no dummy not the song, walking our actual dog. Come hell or high water she has to go out so what ever the weather we are out there with her, it can hurt like hell vut it has to be done it does help in maintaining my mobility.

Diet, avoiding processed foodstuffs and meat where additives have been added. No soft drinks like Coke, Monster, Red Bull etc. Organic foodstuffs wherever possible.

A nice glass of wine, because life is not worth living without ones pleasures.

 

[Rayblewit]

Reply #1
In my case it is arthritis and deformed knuckles. Yes, often painful, however it is the brain that fails me, not my fingers.
I think I lose concentration during my playing and I get cocky. I tend to look one or two bars ahead and rely on the fingers to keep up. Yet they often fail me and miss cue a wrong note.
Professional lessons and mentoring would be good advice but I am too stubborn and tight ass to go that path.

Reply #2
Before making this thread a sticky, I would call it something else other than "geezer"
This word has too many variables. . .
Often refers to just old people. and usually just male. Also relates to grumpy and dopey people. In Australia a geezer is sometimes a fat person.
I refer to these forums for good advice, suggestions and remedies for all aspects and I am not sure this thread warrants a "sticky" status. However, we will see and regardless still a relevant subject and good on you Gary for raising it.

R

 

[happyrat1]

Absolutely every other descriptive title I come up with can be misconstrued or even offensive or divisive to some other group.

If you have a better, more descriptive phrase I'd love to hear it.

"aging gracefully" would exclude injuries or youngsters with disabilities as well.

 

[happyrat1]

Do we refer to ourselves as "Special needs keyboard players?"

Or do we get mired in juvenile political correctness looking for an acceptable label for our Venn diagram?

 

[Rayblewit]

"How to play with afflictions and handicaps"

 

[happyrat1]

Sounds lame

 

[Old No7]

For several years running, I had awful pains in the hands and wrists if I worked them hard over the weekend, and it would take days for the pains to subside. I used to wear wrist braces on each hand at night to keep the wrists in neutral positions and not further aggravate them or the hands any more.

Then a Hindu friend of mine suggested that I take 2 Tumeric Curcmin (the yellow Indian spice) daily. I get it from Amazon -- Nature's Nutrition brand, as it has Bioperine (a form of pepper) in it which helps with the absorption. Taken with food, I have no upset from it -- but it has worked wonders in REDUCING and preventing inflammation, and not only in my hands & wrists, but elsewhere too.

It's an all-natural spice that's been used for centuries to treat inflammation, and it's worked great for me! No more wrist guards or days of aches and pains, and if I do turn-a-wrench really hard on one day, any soreness is gone very quickly. It's really helped my keyboard playing these last few years, as I just turned 63 and my chops are now better than they were when I was 33.

Old No7

 

[happyrat1]

For several years running, I had awful pains in the hands and wrists if I worked them hard over the weekend, and it would take days for the pains to subside. I used to wear wrist braces on each hand at night to keep the wrists in neutral positions and not further aggravate them or the hands any more.

Then a Hindu friend of mine suggested that I take 2 Tumeric Curcmin (the yellow Indian spice) daily. I get it from Amazon -- Nature's Nutrition brand, as it has Bioperine (a form of pepper) in it which helps with the absorption. Taken with food, I have no upset from it -- but it has worked wonders in REDUCING and preventing inflammation, and not only in my hands & wrists, but elsewhere too.

It's an all-natural spice that's been used for centuries to treat inflammation, and it's worked great for me! No more wrist guards or days of aches and pains, and if I do turn-a-wrench really hard on one day, any soreness is gone very quickly. It's really helped my keyboard playing these last few years, as I just turned 63 and my chops are now better than they were when I was 33.

Old No7

I'll give it a try. What's the dosage you use?

I see all sorts of strength's and with or without black pepper added.

How big a daily dose do you need to see positive results and what time of day do you normally take them? AM or PM?

 

[Old No7]

Hi Gary -- see my post, (2) per day of that brand that's mentioned (with the Bioperine in it). I take them in the morning with food.

Old No7

 

[happyrat1]

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