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I've long wondered about a shaking in my right hand. 26 or so years ago, while working on a recital, I noticed tremor which would get worse when performing solo. I worked with the percussion prof, who had done research and dissertation on the Inner Game principles applied to percussion.

It worked. During the recital, the tremor started and I thought to myself "stop it". It did. I had isolated a muscle area where the tremor seemed to start, and focusing on that did the trick.

Years later, vastly different practice habits, and lack of work in the Inner Game area, the tremor is back with a vengance. It rarely if ever happens when playing jazz, or when playing in any situation with others playing the same part. It did come up a bit in an orchestra situation last year, but not nearly as bad.

I found out that Mercy Hospital in St Louis has a Musician's Neurology Clinic, so naturally I made an appointment. The specific Musician's Clinic director is a pianist and organist with performance diplomas (or whatever) from her native Italy. I took the Martin in with me and played a bit. She did a thorough history, a somewhat cursory physical exam (no big deal, that) and watched, listened, and recorded me playing, as well as a couple of specific task exercises to evaluate things.

My fear, of it being Essential Tremor, was assuaged. Dr Conti said it is a dystonic tremor rather than ET. She related it to writer's cramp rather than an ongoing genetic thing. While that's quite a relief, it leaves as much in new questions as in relief.

First step was to evaluate hand position. I mentioned, during the exam, that it never happened while playing trombone, and it does happen when holding a drinking glass from/over the top. So, position is definitely a part. Solution 1, a trip to Tinkerville...Dan removed the thumb rings from both the Martin and the B&S. Then, he extended the 5th valve paddle on the F a bit, to allow my hand to be lower and more naturally bent to the playing position. The Martin's ring was useless anyway, too small and really not positioned well, so it was really just in the way. I haven't been in a situation of playing euphonium or baritone in a performance, so that test will have to wait a bit.

Preliminary results: positioning feels much better. The 5th valve seems considerably slower, though; since I'd played F almost exclusively for so many years, I've really gotten used to that action as it was. It is coming around.

I'm starting to wonder if some of it is performance anxiety. It's never really been a problem on the surface, but maybe as I've aged and my practice regimen has degressed a bit, I've become a little less certain of some things, especially having jumped back into big horn playing after so long. That will be explored, too. A friend, keyboard player who started off as a composition major, is now a psychologist who specializes in anxiety-related things. An appointment is in the works.

This is a crazy business we are in. Anyone who thinks being a musician is easy, at whatever level, hasn't really done it. I know I'm not the only one to feel that way, nor the first to express, not even the 1,000th to say it, and I've known it for a long time. But sometimes it just hits. Hard.

Updates as it seems appropriate.

I'm not really asking a question, but relating what's going on. Any slightly constructive thoughts/discussions are appreciated, especially if you've been in a similar place.

If she said it was dystonic, be incredibly grateful that it is not your chops. Dystonia is a "brain plasticity thing" that is not necessarily related to anxiety, although anxiety can certainly worsen it. Your best bet is to change the sensation involved with playing, which it sounds like you're doing.
MA

MA, you'd better believe I'm happy! She did say it wasn't FD actually, either. I guess I'm not sure what the distinction is, but that will come up when I have a follow-up appointment.

I am rereading "The Inner Game of Golf", to help with this and my disc golf game. I'm not good at DG, but it's so much fun that I want to get a little better if I can. I think Galwey's idea of limiting practice and playing per week is a good way to start...although I rarely ever play it very seriously.

eupher61 wrote:MA, you'd better believe I'm happy! She did say it wasn't FD actually, either. I guess I'm not sure what the distinction is, but that will come up when I have a follow-up appointment.

I am rereading "The Inner Game of Golf", to help with this and my disc golf game. I'm not good at DG, but it's so much fun that I want to get a little better if I can. I think Galwey's idea of limiting practice and playing per week is a good way to start...although I rarely ever play it very seriously.

Galwey wrote a book with Barry Green, a professional orchestral bass player, called the Inner Game of Music, with many of the same ideas, but with a more specific application.

the music book, to me, is worthless. the applications are poorly defined, it is poorly written, and the musical info is flawed.

BTW, Green was the primary author, with Galwey getting credit and royalties for the concept and copyright.

The golf book, long before I even had held a club, had much more applicability. My opinion.

one thing that might help is to understand the physiology of your wrist and hand so that you are working with your body's natural design.

There are some good anatomy books for musicians out there - check out the 'what every musician needs to know about the body" (they have instrument specific ones too).

Essentially though, know that your wrist is comprised of two rows of small bones that work together to bend at that joint - but they're not a hinge! There is some curving motion there. Also, make sure that you are moving you fingers from where the joints actually are (feel around in your hand - they're not the bumps on the back or the creases on the inside.). Also - spend some time with your thumb, notice that it does have three joints - the one closest to your hand should also be in use when using your thumb. There's a lot more to it than what I've just written, but for me, it really helped with some hand issues.

eupher61 wrote:the music book, to me, is worthless.

+1 ................... and I spent my money on it!