Hello there,

I hav a question here... am learning the piano now...and is pretty interested in the guitar and violin. However, I remember hearing my colleague telling me that if you play the piano, don't touch the strings instruments, as playing string instruments make your fingers stiff or something. Is that true?

I really hope not... and notice that there are many pple learning piano and violin at the same time.
Are there any side effects to playing string instruments, which will affect playing the piano?

Thanks.

not that I know of, and I've been playing violin for thirteen years and piano for eleven...

It hasn't affected Mstislav Rostropovich - his Cello playing is arguably the best in modern times (started in early childhood) and he's 77 years old, and he plays the piano unbelievably well. It never hindered J.S. Bach either, nor Mozart ..... (endless list)...
I think strings and keyboard go very well together and don't hinder each other at all.

Never heard that one before, and I play both!

I play both violin and piano, and I've never experienced that!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Nov 17 2004, 08:58 PM)

I play both violin and piano, and I've never experienced that!

Me neither!

Wow wow wow,

Hmmm.... seems like there realli are many pple doing both instruments, without any harm.
Ok, so I guess that playing the guitar doesn't affect playing the piano too.
Right, thanks for all the advice!

QUOTE (aspiring_pianist @ Nov 19 2004, 05:10 AM)

Wow wow wow, Hmmm.... seems like there realli are many pple doing both instruments, without any harm. Ok, so I guess that playing the guitar doesn't affect playing the piano too. Right, thanks for all the advice!

definitely not - I play violin piano and guitar and none of those are affected by the others

I dont think it affects me............... I play vio cello guitar and piano, unless i have a horrible shock awaiting me in later life!

It's not that painful! It's not even painful at all!...

Never heard that one before... I play viola and piano, loads of people in my orchestra play a string instrument and piano, my viola teacher took viola and piano as equal first study at college...

I've never heard of it either.

If anything, it's when I haven't done any playing that my fingers get stiff. Playing actually keeps them supple and strong.

My piano teacher when I was younger used to try and tell me that, but then she spent most of my piano lessons either telling me how badly I was playing stuff or telling me that playing other instruments was ruining my piano playing, so frankly I think she was talking tosh. Definitely when it comes to finger strength and flexibility, the two instruments help each other.

...actually she said nothing about stiff fingers, just claimed that other instruments were impeding my piano playing, but I've come to the conclusion (which I was fairly sure of even at 12!) that she was totally wrong.

My piano teacher plays the cello, and dont most teachers play piano?! My violin teacher certainly does, and it doesnt seem to have harmed her!

ive played piano for 8 years and violin/viola for 6 it hasnt affected me

While we are on the subject [or sort of]:

I've been playing violin for almost 12 years now, and recently [last 1-2 years] I've started getting pains in my left arm and hand. most recently the muscle in my forearm has been painful but i havn't had pains in my hand since i finished physiotherapy on a broken thumb.

Does anyone else have this problem? your help would be appreciated!

Simon

I have heard of it before. Actually, my piano teacher told me that when I decided to learn violin. I hope it is not true.

I don't think it's true... in my experience, playing stringed instruments makes your fingers stronger and more nimble...

When I play violin I tend to get really cold fingers.
I think it's because of my bad circulation.

True nonsense!
In fact, I think playing piano has a lot of benefit for my cello playing and vice versa...besides not having to re-learn the bass clef, I think it can be quite good for left hand fingers! So far there have been no problems...tens of great cellists can also play the piano very well...how about Mozart? A great keyboard virtuoso as well as on violin. Sure enough, when playing high positions on the cello you have to put your fingers straight, which is the opposite of curved fingers on the piano, but so far I haven't experienced those problems. Playing string instruments makes your fingers much quick and nimble!!

Well I play the Piano and have just started the violin and I can honestly say that my finglwnsa mdangfs' MA./f/v,lbnn.....

Strange. What happened then?

Gae