On the mend

I haven’t really posted in the last three weeks for a very good reason: I’ve had tendinitis in my wrists and hands.  As a musician, this was a huge road block, and to make sure I healed up in a timely fashion, I had to forego the computer for all but homework.  However, my hands are getting better now!  I’ve increased my practice time to thirty minutes per day, up from twenty, and I’m hoping that by the end of December I’ll be able to play for an hour at a time.

I can’t really explain to you how good it feels to be able to play the harp again if you aren’t a musician or actor or artist yourself; playing the harp is not just something I do, or a hobby I enjoy.  It is a part of who I am, my reason for being here at UBC, and what brings me joy on a daily basis.  To have that taken away… was hard.  The important thing is though, I’m getting better and get back to doing what I love!  I like to think that it’s a good thing that I got hurt now, at the beginning of my first year, so that I can learn to take care of myself and not get hurt again later, like in third year and having a big recital coming up.

I honestly am not entirely sure where I went wrong when practicing.  I warmed up, stretched, took breaks, all that stuff.  What I think it must come down to is that I increased my practice time too much too fast when I arrived in September, and I must also have been playing too tensely. I’ve learned my lesson and I’m increasing my playing time very gradually and spend my time working on relaxed technique!