Pain in the Back -- Solved?
The practicing-related pain in the back continued to get worse. Some of my jazz gigs were torture. Assuming that the basic cause is bad posture, I worked on several ways of solving it.
First was to make a wedge, to put on the piano bench, that would tilt my torso forward, and force me to sit up straight.
That didn't really do it, since I could still sit in such a way that allowed me to slouch.
I then tried putting together my piano bench such that it was tilted, and putting it end-on to the piano.
This was just too uncomfortable.
Finally, I found the solution: Use a chair.
I was surprised to find that my computer chair, at full height, was the same height as my piano bench. If I sit with my back supported by the back of the chair, the pain is much less. I had one three hour piano gig with no pain at all.
I expect this will solve my problem. Another thing that should help is a week away from the piano. I implemented this cure by flying to Hawaii with my wife for a week of surfing, hiking, and drinking.
Hawaii Vacation
We got back yesterday, so it's now back to work with two hours per day of sight-reading!
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