Re: [Harp-L] skier's thumb and harp holding

[pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx]

take the brace off for the gig, down a couple of shots, and Man up. It's the blues, it's supposed to hurt! 

but seriously though John, i feel your pain. I am missing the first three fingers on my right hand from a table saw accident many years ago and make some minor adjustments in order to get a good grip for and tight cup. Not as important as the left hand for sure, but In addition to our mouth lips and neck needing to work when playing, the left hand grip on the harp is extremely important. Can you play in a neck rack at all? might be a good time to work on that skill. 

Best luck in your recovery. 

Ross Macdonald 
www.sassparillapdx.com 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "john kuzloski" <jkuzloski@xxxxxxxxx> 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2010 9:04:29 AM 
Subject: [Harp-L] skier's thumb and harp holding 

I've got "skier's thumb" (from a ski fall), and my left hand is in a brace that 
keeps me from squeezing my thumb together with my index finger -- just where I 
hold my harps! I played a gig last night and had to do it all via vocal mike 
(can't do the tight amp cup!). Also played holding the harp in just my right 
hand -- very disconcerting (never realized the "concert" base of that word). 
Made m realize how unconsciously dependent I am on locating holes by their 
position relative to the thumb and index finger of my left hand. I did try 
placing the harp in my left hand a bit, but the brace kept the harp from going 
all the way into the space between my thumb and index finger -- so my intuition 
of where the holes are was off a bit. I have a gig tonight (NYE) and next 
weekend (will have a cast on next weekend -- post surgery -- they have to 
reattach a ligament). I did just try playing through an amp, I could sort of 
hold the mike with the last two fingers of my right hand as usual (bulletizer on 
an ultimate felt like best size and weight -- thanks Greg). It doesn't sound 
FAT like it should, but I might bring an amp tonight anyway -- I like to play 
through a vocal mike AND an amp for different songs just to give the audience 
some sonic variety. Without a tight cup, I'm not sure that the sound will be 
all that much different from playing through the vocal mike -- but I will be 
able to have reverb and tone control at my disposal. 
For about 4 weeks after surgery, I'll be in a cast; then I go to a splint for 
about 6 weeks. The skiers around here tell me they get a splint that allows 
them to grip a ski pole, so maybe I'll get one of those AND I'll bring a harp 
and microphone to the splint place to see if they can set me up for a tight cup! 
They also tell me I won't be back to FULL strength for a year or so -- hopefully 
a tight ENOUGH cup won't require FULL strength. 
Anyway, this is just a whining, a sharing of an interesting harp situation, and 
an invitation for anyone who has had a similar situation to chime in -- either 
specifically about the thumb (advice?) or even bout any injury accommodation 
that you had to make to keep on playing. 

Happy New Year, all.