How long should a broken wrist sideline a student?

bdb_of_vjb · #1 01-25-2007, 09:35 PM

Hi, all, and HELP!

I've got an electric bass student -- a 12-year-old -- and she just broke her left wrist skiing. Now, I'm no doctor -- I don't even play one on TV. Her doctor has said that she'll be in a cast for three or four weeks. I've told her not to play at all until the cast comes off (according to her mom, she has enough mobility that she COULD play, even with the cast on). But am I being overly paranoid? How soon should she be able to start playing, assuming she doesn't want to do permanent damage to herself?

- bdb

Ibanezzer · #2 01-25-2007, 10:13 PM

teach her some slap or something that can be done with just the right hand....

I agree on recommending that it not be used, don't want to mess it up for good.

Demon · #3 01-26-2007, 12:02 AM

Personally id stay on the safe side on that mather. Besides, shes only 12 and has all time in the world, so dont rush it.

**Freddels** · #4 01-26-2007, 05:58 AM

Sounds like a perfect time to work on right hand technique. Work on alternating fingers and crossing strings. IMHO, it's usually the right hand (plucking hand) that slows down progress and it's usually the one that gets tired first when playing a lot.

Also a good time to work on reading notes (away from the bass). Have her read each note and say the note name out loud.

steve66 · #5 01-26-2007, 06:41 AM

I agree. get her into just right hand techniques, alternating finger stlye, slap and right hand muting. Surprisingly, many teachers don't focus on this. Also keep in mind that you will need to go slow with her when the cast comes off and may have to adjust the bass and alter some left hand positioning to ease the angle on the wrist (which is a good thing).

tplyons · #6 01-26-2007, 10:08 AM

Yep, right hand techniques and theory seem to be good for a time like now.

NEVER RUSH A HAND INJURY. I've done it when I sliced my tendon on my left middle finger. Took me about a year for it to properly heal.

bdb_of_vjb · #7 01-26-2007, 10:28 AM

Thanks to everyone for the advice so far ... I will keep her working on right hand technique and reading ... maybe even make her sing some bass lines. I'm also gonna try and find a physical therapist to talk to about this type of issue on a more general level, and if I get any good info I'll post it.

BTW, is this the right forum for discussing physical injuries and how to avoid them (or at least avoid making them worse?

- bdb

Bob Clayton · #8 01-27-2007, 02:31 AM

there's no "forum" for that, but close enough.

CamMcIntyre · #9 01-28-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdb_of_vjb

Thanks to everyone for the advice so far ... I will keep her working on right hand technique and reading ... maybe even make her sing some bass lines. I'm also gonna try and find a physical therapist to talk to about this type of issue on a more general level, and if I get any good info I'll post it.

BTW, is this the right forum for discussing physical injuries and how to avoid them (or at least avoid making them worse?

- bdb

I'm not sure if you know it or not-but if you do, teach her sol feg. The rock guys on here won't agree, but that has done a lot for my playing. Sol feg is the first thing that we had to get ingrained into our heads here at music school, and there's not a day that i don't wish i would have learned it at a younger age.

Singing bass lines and sight singing is a good thing if you're good enough to teach them [i didn't check your profile].

take it easy.