fiddle support for fused spine arthritis

Subject: RE: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: Frankham
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 05:49 PM

I am intrigued with what Mark Wood has done with his electric fiddle called The Viper. There is a strap that hooks onto a left hand side knob, is tossed over the left shoulder and brought up under the right arm and attached to a knob on the right hand side. There is a little collapseable support that leans against the left hand side of the upper chest and these all hold the fiddle in position without having to deal with a chin rest or support the neck with the thumb. I don't see why this wouldn't work for a conventional accoustic fiddle although I don't think anyone would want to experiment with a Cremona. (Mark Wood Violins are on-line in case anyone is interested.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 02:50 PM

There is a world of simple solutions out there! Why make it harder?

:-)

Don

Subject: RE: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: wilco
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 02:19 PM

Picture two pieces of 1"x4" wood, fastened together in an "L" shape. like this: *
                  *
                  *
                  *
                  ******
   The part on the floor hooks under the leg of the stool, upon which the fiddler sits. He leans the fiddle against the upright vertical section. There is a samll indentation, appded with foam, where the end of the fiddle rests into the vertical piece.

Subject: RE: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 01:21 PM

Wilco,

There are no end of people who have for one reson or another given up an instrument because of a disability. Arthritis is the big'un followed by trauma. This device sounds like a good idea. (A good idea is any idea that works! No scrophulous posts or flames please.)

I'd love to see a good description of the device.

Don

Subject: RE: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 12:30 PM

wilco, if Don Meixner doesn't post, please PM him with this-- he seems to get a lot of requests about adaptive music stuff and I bet he would love to hear about this one.

~S~

Subject: fiddle support for fused spine arthritis
From: wilco
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 11:28 AM

I play with a fiddler who quit playing the fiddle for thirty years, because his spine was "fused into one solid mass." he couldn't hold the fiddle, unless he leaned the fiddle against a wall, so he could move his fretting hand up and down the fingerboard.
    Last march, a friend made a little portable pedestal that hooks under his stool, that allows him to lean the fiddle against it, while he sits down. And, boy!!!! Can he fiddle!!!!!
    I don't know if anyone else needs one of these, but they are easy to make (and very inexpensive). PM me for any info.