Fit as a Fiddle

FaaF sessions

The Nelson-Frank team works in private individual sessions.  Ms. Frank and Mr. Nelson observe how the musician uses his instrument, aligns themselves, uses their muscles, and moves.  Instrument set-up is also analyzed and customized.

Treatment includes strategies and exercises to change painful movement patterns, both on and off the instrument.  Clients will learn how to videotape themselves playing to help self-correct any movement faults.   

The message is...

Our presentation

“Don’t Let This Happen to You!”

Pamela Frank’s case study

   Physical therapist Howard Nelson gives a one-hour presentation on injury prevention and movement analysis.  He uses a case study of violinist Pamela Frank to illustrate how faulty movement habits in daily life, and while playing an instrument, can be injury provoking, and how habitual movement patterns can be retrained.  Pamela is present on stage to answer any questions about her injury and recovery.

Self videotaping

The students are taught how to use video to correct observed movement faults.  
For example: film and play back without sound to see biomechanics clearly; film and listen without looking at the image to hear if a biomechanical correction helped the sound.

LIve Demo

A musician with a physical problem plays for Ms. Frank and Mr. Nelson in front of the audience.  The mechanics of their playing will be analyzed from a musical and biomechanical perspective.

Joint masterclasses

Ms. Frank teaches while Mr. Nelson analyzes the mechanics of the players.  He shares his observations with the audience and can work with the musicians after the class.

Physical THERAPY sessions

Mr. Nelson also works without Ms. Frank in evaluating and treating musicians and non-musicians alike, using the principles of movement analysis.  Sessions focus on rehabilitating an injury, or trying to prevent one.