Hey guys, So ive recently rekindled my passion for playing the violin after over ten years of not playing and ive bought myself an electric one 
im just wondering if anyone else is quite musical and has had difficulty playing their instrument since being ill? I also play piano and ive noticed a difference with my dexterity unfortunately! Also im based in Leeds, West Yorkshire and Im wondering if anyone knows of a tutor local to me with the patience for someone with brain fog lol
Thanks
Hi, yes play the piano but I get a sore neck and shoulder pains and this mean I can only sit at the piano for a short time. I’m not near Yorkshire.
Hi guys, as you probably guess by my screen name, I play drums, and it can be quite amusing when a stick goes flying from time to time, the neck ache and back ache gets me more than anything but it’s a good work out it keeps the arms and legs going not so much in sync as they used to be but I get by using a double bass pedal. It’s more therapeutic than anything and I will carry on as long as I can
Hi guys, as you probably guess by my screen name, I play drums, and it can be quite amusing when a stick goes flying from time to time, the neck ache and back ache gets me more than anything but it’s a good work out it keeps the arms and legs going not so much in sync as they used to be but I get by using a double bass pedal. It’s more therapeutic than anything and I will carry on as long as I can
Sorry I’ve double posted again…
Me. Piano and guitar for the most part…have also played cello in the past, and can get more of a noise out of Himself’s cornet than he can - my mum used to say I could get a tune out of anything you gave me! Certainly game to give it a go. e.g. clarionet, I can just about manage Strangers on the Shore, but that’s using recorder fingering and I really don’t know what notes I’m playing or what key I’m playing in; I just know where the tune should go. Have noticed that complicated stuff on piano suffers a bit from muddled up fingering, and dragging the guitar around in its hard case is such a chore that I don’t bother that often! When fatigue sets in, the last thing I need is to be managing a guitar as well; it’s enough of a pain just getting myself around, let alone my guitar as well!
Hobbies can be difficult. Have you tried online violin?
I’ve attempted musical hobbies - but my arms and hands are too weak, so I’m learning drawing and painting.
Local art classes are expensive, so I follow American online art courses and bought a few books.
It’s a nice hobby for MSers. You don’t need a lot of energy.
My daughter is keen on art too, so it’s a nice activity we can do together.
I’m learning colour mixing using Munsell at the moment.
It would be nice to do some landscape painting when the weather improves - and I will keep looking for a cheaper art group to join to socialise a bit.
Are there any other artists out there?
Fay
Yep, piano for me. Couldn’t play for a year due to stiffness and spine pain. However, I have had physio for trigger finger as my right hand doesn’t work properly and two fingers don’t really work at all now, but I have persisted with my own physio using a ball and pressing down on the nerves on the upper arm, working down the arm to the wrist and fingers. The physio advised me to continue doing this forever to loosen up everything. It has worked quite well although the two fingers still won’t work. But what it has done, is free up the hands quite a bit and I can play more now. I have to sit on a cushion, sometimes with neck and back support and support socks, then I have to work out a way to double up notes with other fingers to compensate for the two that don’t work. I also go to a sauna/steam room now and then and when I come out, everything works for a short while then just gets stiffer and stiffer as the weeks go by. Each day even when watching the television, I flex my hands now and do finger exercises to keep them moving, I also moisturise them with good oils as I am sure this helps.
I used to teach piano just as an interest and my last pupil was 80 something and had arthritis so between us we had already worked out a system of learning and practicing with fingers that don’t work.
I can’t draw or paint for toffee, but I have joined the library adult colouring group which is ace. We colour designs in mostly beasts, fantasy, mindfullness patterns with as many different crayons/felts/crayon pens as the library supplies. It has turned us all into fanatics as we sit up till 1 am when we go home colouring. They also give us tea and bickies yum.
Some time ago I was chatting with my MS nurse and the conversation turned to things that can help with cognitive problems. Learning to play a musical instrument is one thing that has been found to help, as well as helping with manual dexterity. Another thing that can help is learning a foreign language, which is good news for those who have trouble with musical instruments for any reason.
I tried languages and couldn’t cope. In fact I find novels impossible, and I used to buy all of the Booker Prize books, and argue which was the best, and how the judges got it wrong this year etc.,.
So, I think it depends on where your MS plaques are.
Reminds me of the old joke about the chap being prepped for an operation and asks the surgeon “will I be able to play the piano after I have had the operation?” YES replies the surgeon “oh thats good because I couldn’t before”
The old ones are the best
SORRY
Don
Hi, I did the same thing. In the end I bought a 3/4 size. My left hand could not reach the highest notes. I trained to professional level as a flautist but didn’t love it enough to start again. Then there was the standing up…, so I bought a cello. I’m still looking for a teacher. I should start again.
i sing with a pro level choir and the standing up troubles me. I may have to stop for a while but the grief of life without music is too painful to bear.
practising the piano helps. A bit. Music is my operating system. It drives me and it is me. It’s who I am.
About 10 years ago, at age 43, I learned to play acoustic guitar. Didn’t play very well,but it was enough for me to be strumming and signing away quite happily. I still try to play but I struggle to put enough pressure on the strings to fret properly and the sound is awful. So I play now and then,but only if my hands are having a very good day and even then I can’t play for long until the hands are sore. I can still sing though and do so all the time. I’m a wonderful singer, but somehow my wife and kids don’t appreciate this fact are always telling me to be quiet.
Derek
Cracker, thank you for this one, 3.47 a.m. and I’m laughing quite loudly.