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Phil Tompkins wrote in part: <<Interesting - when I play the piano, concentrating on playing the right notes seems to increase any dyskinesia I might be having, and I find myself squirming. Anyone have thoughts on why this happens? (I don't think it's related to the fact that you would squirm if you heard me play.)>> I experience many muscles working to make mouth, lips, tongue, fingers, arms, legs even squirm or distort when trying to do some fine motion activity that I concentrate on finishing or attempting to complete. perhaps this is due to my systems not having enough dopamine to keep all the unneeded muscles quiet while trying to get fine movements of those needed to do what I am trying. This typing is a part in motor memories that goes faster than I can think with cognition. Music playing has much the same sub-cognitive motor sequences learned by the practicing with the instrument. If these practiced motor sequences are used enough to remain available, then the squirming (dystonia, dyskinesia) are less likely. Ronald Price practiced 3 hours minimum daily to maintain that "availability" as i understand it. Perhaps my typing e-mail (which I do not do without looking at the fingers (because the fingers do not maintain placement well when not loooking) has recovered some of my proficiency at typing. I never was very accurate. I type more now than ever in terms of time spent at it. another possibility is that using often helps the re-learning via establishing new neural connections. the "concentrating" on playing the right notes - has mental messaging that is purely brain activities that need neurotransmitters. those used to "think" reduce the amount available to direct the proper motor sequences - and IMPORTANTLY to suppress unwanted signals which include the "squirming" motor sequences that do not get suppressed. enough practice may get you beyond the problem. not seeking perfection may help by lessening anxiety chemical messengers which generate static messsages? -- Ron Vetter 1936, '84 PD dz paradise is feeling good, not a place to go [log in to unmask] http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~rfvetter