Fit as a Fiddle: The Musician's Guide to Playing Healthy / Edition 1

by William J. Dawson

Overview

Instrumental musicians can and do develop many physical problems that interfere with making music. Fit as a Fiddle is written by an international authority in musicians' medicine who also is a symphonic musician and teacher. It provides current and important health-related information for all instrumentalists, presented in an understandable and readable fashion. Dr. Dawson includes a section on basic body structure and function, avoiding medical jargon and setting the stage for following chapters. Further topics include those disorders that are caused by playing music: including overuse, muscle strain, and tendinitis. Subsequent chapters discuss a variety of conditions common to mature performers and teachers, especially carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and hearing loss. Each chapter provides self-help advice to both musician and music teacher in recognizing problems, seeking medical care, and choosing treatment strategies. Dr. Dawson includes information on alternate care disciplines, as well as on rehabilitation and prevention of both common and uncommon conditions that can interfere with practice and performance. The book contains a helpful glossary of medical terms, both familiar and unfamiliar. Fit as a Fiddle is written specifically for instrumental musicians of all ages and degrees of experience, as well as their teachers from primary to conservatory level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578866847
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	11/05/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	5.54(w) x 8.49(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

William J. Dawson, a retired hand surgeon, is president of the Performing Arts Medicine Association and is a member of the editorial board of its journal. He also is a symphonic bassoonist and private instrumental teacher who serves as medical consultant to the International Double Reed Society and the Association of Concert Bands. He is currently associate professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Playing with Pain: Making Music is Physical Chapter 3 Some Basics of Structure and Function Chapter 4 Teacher and Student : Playing-Related Problems Chapter 5 Overuse Chapter 6 Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis Chapter 7 Carpal Tunnel and Other Nerve Problems Chapter 8 Arthritis and Other Problems of the Mature Musician Chapter 9 Hand Injury (Trauma) Chapter 10 Treatment Alternatives Chapter 11 Getting Back to Music (Rehabilitation) Chapter 12 Keeping your "Equipment" in Shape Chapter 13 Web Resources Chapter 14 Glossary of Terms

Editorial Reviews

The chapters describing the physiology of our bones and joints, muscles and tendons, and the nervous system and the definitions and descriptions of tendinitis, carpal tunnel and arthritis are well-organized, written in layman's terms and easy to understand. Dr. Dawson also addresses the physical issues faced by the aging musician who wishes to continue playing: a discussion not often seen in print....the extensive glossary of terms and lists of web resources and suggestions for further reading are very valuable.

11/1/08n Music Teacher

Seldom, if ever before, have the physical concerns of the performing musician been addressed so clearly and so knowledgably. Fit as a Fiddle is an exceptionally well-written and easily understood guide to identifying and addressing virtually every problem associated with musical performance. Dr. Dawson's book will become a valued and indispensable resource for every performing musician and teacher of music.

from the foreword by Frederick L. Hemke

The chapters describing the physiology of our bones and joints, muscles and tendons, and the nervous system and the definitions and descriptions of tendinitis, carpal tunnel and arthritis are well-organized, written in layman's terms and easy to understand. Dr. Dawson also addresses the physical issues faced by the aging musician who wishes to continue playing: a discussion not often seen in print....the extensive glossary of terms and lists of web resources and suggestions for further reading are very valuable.

American Music Teacher - 11/1/08

The chapters describing the physiology of our bones and joints, muscles and tendons, and the nervous system and the definitions and descriptions of tendinitis, carpal tunnel and arthritis are well-organized, written in layman's terms and easy to understand. Dr. Dawson also addresses the physical issues faced by the aging musician who wishes to continue playing: a discussion not often seen in print....the extensive glossary of terms and lists of web resources and suggestions for further reading are very valuable.
— 11/1/08

American Music Teacher