The shoulders of the cellist

This subject is a must for a professional cellist (but not only)! Athletes have a shorter performance career than musicians, but we are the one who talk the less about muscles, joints, biomechanics, pain and injuries.
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Prevent and heal cello injuries: online course

SCAPULA SUPPORT AND MOVEMENT

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Understanding the use and the motion of the scapula is one of the most important topics for a professional topics. Why? Because you want to put the minimum effort in your playing, find freedom in movement,  and have a long and healthy career.

By having a good support and good use of your shoulder you can...

PREVENT

  • Tendinitis 
  • Tendinosis
  • Back and neck pain

IMPROVE

  • Your sound: when your arm gets a good support, you get a lot more weight and power on your bow, through a good use of levers. Minimum effort. 

  • The mobility of your arm and fingers, the technique of your left hand.

  • Your technique will improve drastically, I have experienced it on myself, but also with all the cellists who came to work with me on that topic.


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SCAPULA WINGING


Scapula winging happens when your scapula does not have good muscles support. It leads to a loss of power in your arm, sometimes causing tendonitis in your elbow, or shoulder, it and can be the source of considerable pain, headache and pain in your trapeze and neck.


SHOULDERS AND CELLO PLAYING

From 0:00 until 0:08 : No winging scapula, back support.
From 0:08 until 0:28 : Winging scapula, inner rotation of the shoulder.
You probably heard teachers say: "keep your shoulders down".This is not "that" simple... you might end up with pain in your trapeze and tendonitis in your elbow.

Be careful, with scapula winging... 

Of course lifting too much your shoulder is not good, but if your shoulderblades don't have good support, putting your shoulder down can be as bad as the opposite.

Your shoulder blade must find support from your back muscles because if not, you might get pain in your trapeze and neck. Your sound will not project as well as because the weight of your arm will end up in your elbow. It often causes tendonitis
and also pain in your wrist.

Note: 
Having great support from your back muscles doesn't mean your scapula will not move. If the scapula is attached by surrounded muscles and not a joint means more possibilities in movement.  
Once you built good muscle support, you can add as much weight as needed on the string, your whole body is connected, from your feet to the tip of your fingers.