Post-stroke Musicians

Subject: Post-disability Musicians
From: Vicki M.
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 08:16 PM

Hi,

I am writing an article on folk instruments for the disabled and would love to hear from some folks who have struggled to regain the ability to play instruments or if and how they switched to new ones. I stroked in 1986 (leftt side paralysis) and have gone through a bunch of instruments with varying amounts of success. I mainly play autoharp and bowed psaltry.

I know there was a thread in March (click here) about this and hope BAZ is still on here. Do you have any new students?

Thanks,

Vicki M.

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From:
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 08:22 PM

I read somewhere that Johnny Shines, the great blues guitarist, suffered a stroke. It doesn't sound as serious as yours, but he found he had trouble with muffled notes when he fretted. He found that switching to an electric guitar solved his problems. Anyway, he did continue to perform.

Murray

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Einnor
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 11:12 PM

I am not a stroke victim but I am a survivor of a logging accident. A tree fell on me when my back was turned. Broken back, ribs, teeth and a bone in my foot. I have alot of trouble learning and my coordination ain't what it used to be but they won't stop the world to let me off so I just keep doing the best I can.

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From:
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 11:48 PM

Right now I have MS and am doing as well, after my last exacerbation, as I will probably get. Was a professional musician a long while but no way can I even get close to doing it up to my previous standards. I still pick up my banjo or guitar about 3 or 4 times a week and sit down with it in an open G tuning. Less to fret that way. My major disability, now and for the last year, is that my hands are terribly numb--some days are better than others. But the longer I play (ten or 15 minutes) the worse it is. Vicki, I know how frustrating this is for you. Usually, after ten minutes I get too ticked off at myself and I set the banjo aside.

Did try an autoharp that Brian Bowers was nice enough to send here. After 3 months I got it sort of in tune.

TRY A MOUNTAIN DULCIMER! 3-sting kind. Use a noter (wooden stick) to fret the first string. Strum any way that works best. Try not to have standards as high as mine. Just enjoy it. AND THE BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: DonMeixner
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 11:57 PM

I am not a post stroke person but I know two fiddlers who are. One fiddles as well as she used too the fiddles only in his memories which are not very dependable. The degree of post stroke facility is as much a measure of you pre stroke health and your post stroke severity and treatment. In my experience, several months are required of constant therapy before any maesurable improvement may be seen. In 1986 while building a wheelchair ramp I had a board come apart in the saw. I was knocked unconcious and when I came to my senses I realized I had fallen across the saw blade. The damage to the fingers on my left hand was extesive requireing microsurgery, vascular and never reattachment as well the the reattachment of the middle finger of my left hand. The post operative physical therapy was immediate. I began with an auto harp. The passive resistant nature of the spring was perfect for extention and flexion while the movement to different bars was perfect for range of motion. I now play guitar and banjo again. I replaced the fiddle with a hammered dulcimer. I don't play what I did before the accident or aswell as I did either. But I play. I concentrate no on entertaining rather than being a hott musician. No one mentions the accident or makes me feel sorry for myself anymore because I am playing. There is musical life after some horrific injuries. Do the therapy, pick a new instrument if you have to but you can go forward.

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: BSeed
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 01:17 AM

I wonder if our unnamed friend above has thought of flat-picking a Dobro (there's even a flatpick made that has an egg-shaped grip--with beans inside, as a combination flat-pick, rhythm instrument). The slide should be easier to manipulate than fretting even an open-tuned banjo. --seed

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Bert
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 09:59 AM

Vicki,

You might try a Hurdy Gurdy if all else fails.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 05:46 PM

the mind and muscles will do a LOT if they have any chance at all...we know a woman who hurt her left (fretting hand) in a car accident...within 2 years, she had bought a left handed guitar and learned to play left handed...(using only a flat pick in her left hand, since she has little use of the fingers.)...there is always SOME way...(and the Hurdy-Gurdy IS an option, though expensive and hard to find good ones)

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Bob Landry
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 05:53 PM

Vicki - my Dad was a Cape Breton fiddler who played with the best of his day such as Winston Fitzgerald and Buddy McMaster. In 1986, a massive stroke left him permanently paralyzed, unable to play anything but the radio - the damage was too severe. His love of music remained strong until he passed away. My family is very fortunate that Dad taped some of the music we made at a family reunion in 1985. I often play that tape and wish he were still around to play the jigs and reels I grew to love. It provides a strong impetus for me to overcome my mediocre talent and continue learning to flatpick some of his favourite tunes that continually dance in my head.

I commend you, Vicki, Einnor and anybody else who has the tenacity to overcome the limitations imposed on you by strokes, illnesses or accidents and continuing to make music. Your music matters.

Bob

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Musicman
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 04:07 AM

I agree with that last comment. I work as a music therapist in a hospital ECU and Intermediate care facility. I see many people who has lost the ability to play or talk due to strokes. It is encourageing to see how people respond to music and how hard they will try to participate when good music is happening. See my note on the "Happy Trails" tracer about a very successful venture.

All the best, and keep pickin',or strummin', or whatever works....just keep doin'.

Paul

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 10:00 PM

and, the autoharp can be played with one finger on each hand!! You cas even play tunes that way, though chordal accompniment is easiest....if you can tune it, you can make nice music on it!

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From: Bo
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 11:15 PM

I find this sort of thing blindingly scary. This is not sympathy but appreciation. You folks deserve really good things for overcoming crap like this. Good luck.

I want to play in circles with this sort of bravery.

Bo

Subject: RE: Post-stroke Musicians
From:
Date: 18 Nov 98 - 03:03 AM

And leave us not forget the harmonica. This requires little conventional dexterity. I injured my finger and couldn't play my guitar for a while and I took out an old diatonic harmonica that I had always meant to learn to play. The thing really takes very little physical coordination and one hell of a lot of musical ability to play well. When it is mastered, I think it makes great music too.

(I don't think I mastered it in the month I had until I could get back to the guitar again. It sits on my desk next to the computer mouse--I'll get back to it any day now.)

Murray