September 2009 - The Wholenote Magazine

Al and Malka Green Artists’Health Centre when it openedin 2002 ( part of the UniversityHealth Network at the TorontoWestern Hospital) Ginette becameaware that there was greatneed in the music community andfound herself treating a broadrange of working musicians.Today, Ginette’s “musical athletes”recognize each other in thegreen rooms of orchestra hallswhen they notice they are doingthe same stretching or relaxationexercises.Why the need?I asked Ginette what she wouldsay to a room full of keen teenagedmusicians and their teacher.I would tell them: “Playing aninstrument is athletic. Like anathlete you have to think aboutyour body. You have to stretchand warm up all of the musclesyou use. We do strengtheningexercises to be better athletes:as a player these need to be partof your activities. And after youfinish playing you stretch again.If you have pain you don’t ignoreit: you’re not a bad player, it justmeans that something isn’t workingright. Don’t just use ice andsee if it goes away: talk to yourteacher; see if there’s somethingthat can be done.” I would say‘Look: it might feel easy now, youare young and you should nothave pain. But as you get older,and are practising and rehearsingmore, not just 2 hours a day butmaybe a 6 to 14 hour day, yourwork will be increasingly strenuous.Most musician’s injurieshappen over time: a build-up ofmicro-injuries.”Ginette sees increasing numbersAlexander Katsprofessionalpianist/teacher(ARCT, university) RCMof string players, violinists andviolists in particular, whose workis very hard on the body. Sometimesit’s mainly about workingon alignment and posture, changingsome position only a few millimetres.I frequently see a relationshipto the neck, even though itseems like there’s some injuryto the wrist, elbow or shoulder.Tightness in the neck area willoften manifest in other places.Certainly brass players haveparticular difficulties: with thetrombone, tuba, french horn it’salso partly about the weight ofthe instrument. Not as much wristand elbow stuff, but the neck andlower back suffer because of theplaying position – they also mayhave to play standing.A musicians’ regimenYou need to think of yourself asan athlete, she says,Practise, rehearse, or performwhen you’ve had a little walk orbike ride to increase your heartrate. Stretch, play somethingeasy, and then stretch again- forearms, pecs, neck. Learnhow to feel relaxed, both whenyou are playing and waiting toplay. Take (or find) breaks everyhour to stretch. Don’t go on thecomputer as a way of “taking abreak”. Make sure you have abackpack type case that uses usetwo shoulders, or something thatcan go on wheels if your instrumentis heavy. If you play a one sided instrument like the violin,or french horn, try to lie downon a rolled towel to open up yourchest and relax both sides -”untwist”when you take break.It’s only human nature to becomecomplacent when you feelgood and things are going well.These kinds of ideas, easy tosay, harder to follow, inspiredher to create two DVDs calledStability With Mobility – one fordancers, and one for musicians- to guide them through some ofthe routines that will protect theirwell-being. Visit her website atwww.stabilitywithmobility.comHere’s the carrot on the end ofthe exercise stick, as Ginette seesit: my clients see that when theyfeel better they play better. Injurycan be a gift: a time when yourbody is telling you something.Ignore it and you’re not going tolearn from it. Or, you can makeyourself a better player because of it.SalesViolin Viola Cello BowsString accessoriesMusic sheetsRepair and RentalProfessional violin maker andrepairer for over fieen years.Philharmonic Music Ltd.DOWNTOWNLOCATIONGood quality guaranteed.416-340-1844String instrument rental servicealexander.kats@sympatico.ca905-784-2028 www.philharmoniccanada.com46 WWW.THEWHOLENOTE.COM September 1 - October 7, 200980 Acadia Avenue, Unit 309, Markham ON L3R 9V1CantemusSingersAuditions16-voice volunteer choirRenaissance/Baroquerepertoire ♦ Wednesdayrehearsals in BeachesCall Michael @416-578-6602Ginette Hamel holds specialist certificationin sports physiotherapy andis also a Certified Mat Pilates Instructor.She does acupuncture and hasextensive training in manual therapy,Feldenkrais technique, and tapingincluding kinesiotape.)The Al and Malka Green Artists’Health Centre offers both complementary/alternativeand conventionalhealth care to professional creativeand performing artists, and to studentsand staff at post-secondary artsinstitutions. Intake at The Artist’sHealth Centre begins with a nursepractitioner. Clients can be referredto a physician, or to parishioners inphysiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture,naturopathy, psychotherapy.The clinic has access to a medicallaboratory and diagnostic technology.There are some subsidies availablefor non-insurable services. (416) 603-5263 www.ahcf.ca.SchoolPrivate lessons and examspreparaon for:Violin Viola Cello BassPiano Guitar Flute TheoryQuartet OrchestralAll teachers are qualified andexperienced.