For unintentional tremolo efect caused by PD, try a concertina - the effect is rather nice.Amanda
 > Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:16:39 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Musical people with Parkinson's
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Thank you Laureen for sharing your story. I'm glad that you were able to
> find some relief in DBS. I'm very curious about your symptoms other than
> tremor. Can you point out for me any benefit from the surgery other than
> reduction of tremor and of medication? 
> 
> Several elements of what you've told us here are also present in my case. I
> used to be able to play flashy flourishes and super fast runs and jumps and
> I really had good strength and independence of the fingers. I can surely
> blame myself for maybe taking a defeatist tack for a time, and these days, I
> still don't spend much time on scales and rudiments. I still can rock along,
> accompany singers and others, and provide those parts that are called for in
> playing in a "cover band". I'm afraid I'll never match the pianistic feats
> of yesteryear, especially some of the classical pieces I used to play, but
> as I often say, the top has been chopped off my 'iceberg' of talent, but
> there's much more that lies under the surface.
> 
> The most curious effect that I can point to is my tendency to increase the
> tempo as the music goes along. For this I really have to depend on the
> drummer, or enter a super-concentrated state long enough to get through the
> songs. That and the unintentional tremolo effect which is added by a twitchy
> foot on the volume pedal!
> 
> I'm interested in what you'll find when you get out the old music books.
> Keep me posted! Thanks.
> 
> Rick
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott E Antes
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:38 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Musical people with Parkinson's
> 
> This from my wife, Laureen:
> 
> Hi Rick,
> I was diagnosed in 1996 when 45 years old.  In 2007 I had dbs being I was
> the perfect candidate--no dementia and tremor dominant.  Also, I always
> responded well to Sinemet--at least for 3 to 4 years --then the dyskinesias
> started. They got so bad, I can't stress this enough.  I was miserable all
> the time--couldn't wait for meds to kick in to relieve tremors.  Then I
> couldn't wait for meds to wear off as my head and neck jerked so bad from
> the meds.
> Since dbs I have no dyskinesias and take very little meds-requip. As others
> have observed, it is difficult knowing what is due to pd, dbs, or meds.  All
> I can do is share my experiences.
> I've been a professional musician since age 16--singer, pianist and
> organist. Since pd, I played  at a church here in town from 1995 to 2005 but
> then I began making too many mistakes.  One of the worst ones was I played
> the introduction to a hymn-like normal--but my right hand was in a different
> key than my left!  Also, I noticed much less coordination between right and
> left side and loss of flexibility in hands and fingers.
> I left out lots of fast notes to be able to keep up a good tempo.
> Over all, dbs has been good to me.  I have not kept up with playing though
> so it's hard to say if dbs helped my technique.  I suspect that just ridding
> myself of dyskinesias had to improve my playing!
>    I have a goal now to break out the music and see how well I play today!
> I'll write when I think of something else to add.  Laureen
> 
> Scott E. Antes
> Northern Arizona University
> Department of Anthropology
> PO Box 15200
> Flagstaff, AZ 86011
> ________________________________________
> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
> [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Rick McGirr
> [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 4:16 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Musical people with Parkinson's
> 
> Hello, everyone.
> 
> 
> 
> I'll start with a re-introduction, since I've mostly been lurking the last
> few years. My name is Rick McGirr. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
> in 2001 and have been a perpetual pill-popper ever since. I don't know how
> many different drugs I have tried, but it has to be at least a dozen. I
> presently take Sinemet 50/200 and Stalevo 150 mg three times per day, and
> Parcopa as needed, most typically when I am in the middle of my more active
> days. I also take vitamins and fiber supplements. And how could I forget
> those wonderful anti-depressants?
> 
> 
> 
> I would like to strike up a conversation among those of you who might
> classify yourselves as musicians at any level, amateur or professional. I am
> a lifelong musician, and have been playing piano and other keyboard
> instruments professionally since graduating from high school in 1971. I
> developed my playing to a high level, and have had a certain amount of my
> skills taken from me by PD over the last ten years. I continue to play in
> public, but I don't move as much equipment, or play as often or as far away
> as I used to.
> 
> 
> 
> My motives in starting this conversation are to compare notes regarding the
> ways PD affects your musicianship, to talk about difficulties peculiar to
> musicians with PD, to learn what techniques and accommodations you use in
> the process of performing in public, and especially to meet musicians who
> have undergone DBS surgery. I'd like to hear what you musicians have been
> through, what you found about your technique and musicianship, and I'd like
> to find out if having the DBS surgery has helped you regain some of your
> musical skills.
> 
> 
> 
> As my symptoms continue to develop and become more difficult to deal with,
> that little voice that's always in my head speaks a little louder: "You
> could always go for DBS!" I feel like I still want to wait a long time
> before having this procedure, just to keep myself from suffering any of the
> discomforts and known side effects of DBS, but here is where I could use
> your input - am I being too cautious? Is there a big payoff in your musical
> abilities which resulted when you had the surgery? Are you less than totally
> happy about the effects of DBS surgery on your musicality? If there was
> initial improvement, was it followed by more improvement, or has your
> condition back-tracked?
> 
> 
> 
> I appreciate your consideration. Thanks in advance for your replies.
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
 		 	   		  
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn