The Human Body - A Vital Tool

Many people believe that having a good or expensive instrument to play on can futrther your ability in the production of sound, and although that is true to certain degree, the reality of playing an instrument is often overlooked. A piece of wood which resonates beautifully when you draw the bow is what dreams are made of, for a violinist at least, but what about the ability to draw that bow and hold the violin in the right way in order to optimise the sound?

I have often found that not being warmed up physically before playing has meant that fingers, hands and arms simply won't do what I'd like them to and what they normally are perfectly capable of. It sounds simple, but it is so often overlooked! I am not talking about spending half an hour on scales before attempting  to practise a tricky piece, as important as that is, but actually getting the circulation and blood moving through my muscles, and loosening the joints which I will need in order to play.

Just the same way as an athlete would never dream of racing without the proper warm-up beforehand, so I think musicians should approach playing an instrument. It is true that we may not get out of breath doing our regular practice, as athletes do, nevertheless, the number of muscles and tendons incorporated in every tiny little movement on a violin, for example, is quite staggering! I think that is one of reason why so many musicians tend to suffer from tendinitis. It's simply too much work  for the muscles and tendons while not being relaxed and warmed up enough.