I agree, absolutely! I don’t know why this must be a slow revelation in the guitar world. If one looks at the foundational elements of the bow arm technique in string instrumentalists; to draw a firm/robust sound from a violin, for example, one needs to link the lower back muscles to the bow arm, even if it’s just in their imagination to begin with. Once the student realizes and feels that all muscles are interlinked, their sound ‘blossoms’, and that’s no different on a guitar. I often have my students “wipe an imaginary window” with their right hand/arm while they feel their lower back muscles with the left, to get them to feel the link between muscle groups. With practice, their dynamic range on the guitar increases almost immediately! All this is to say thank you, David for putting so much valuable information out there. I will buy your book! :)
I had a form of focal dystonia, pinched nerve, could not keep my fingers aligned, a dysfunctional tight mess. This book completely over haul my comfort levels. I can now play for three hours straight without tightening up, take a break and go for another three hours. I no longer need a sky hook to pry me off of my adjustable musician chair. The most valuable instruction method that I have.
Hi David, after following your approach described in the book and those videos for about a year, I have completely cured my focal dystonia. I now feel completely natural again playing the guitar, have developed a much better tone, and understand so much on what "playing with ease" really means. I am 50 years old but super excited to many years of playing ahead of me. Thank you so much for your lesson and insights. Cheers, - Feng
Hi Feng, what exactly was your issue. My happened over 20yrs back and I hardly ever can play legato with my ring and pinky since that time. If you have any tips or advice how to get rid of this to share it would be great! It is very lifting to read that some are overcome the problem!
I started having focal dystonia with my right-hand index finger (uncontrollably curling in) in June 2019, merely 10 months after I began seriously practicing classical guitar (I practiced 1 1/2 hour a day for 10 months). After my futile visits to hand surgeons, chiropractors and lots of web content, I finally found David Leisner's approach. I am now 4 months into my recovery, and can confirm I am making significant progress - David's large muscle group approach definitely works. I have no doubt I will completely recover soon, and become a stronger and better player. Thank you David for sharing your experience - your book and videos have done wonder for me and I am sure others will benefit from it.
This is incredible, Feng Meng! I am so grateful that my book is helping you and that you let us know about your experience. Please don't hesitate to contact me (through my website, davidleisner.com) if you have any questions, but it sounds like you are doing wonders on your own!
Absolutely David, I will contact you via your website to see if I can take a lesson with you. When I first contracted focal dystonia I was so devastating, because nothing worked - not my mind, body and finger. I found quite a few professional players who have all experienced this but had troubles curing it. Your approach finally put me on the right path, which, plus my tremendous patience, persistence and faith, started working. I think every beginner and professional player should study your method to prevent injuries. Now I want to know how I can accelerate my recovery. Hope to speak to you soon. Thank you! - Feng
Wonderful,@@fengmeng55, I look forward to hearing from you when the time is right for you. In the meantime, congratulations on your improvement so far!
As Dilbert says, “humans are no more [nor less] than moist machines.” That metabolism and how it affects performance should a subject of controversy is mysterious to me. Thanks for bringing this up as a foundational aspect of concert preparation. You phrase it (all) elegantly and you (thereby) remove the fear of confrontation that some might have when discussing technique. I look forward to studying this book. Thank you!
When I was teenager I went for a guitar lesson (I`been paying since about 2 years at the time). My teacher set my left hand in a "proper" position - fingers perpendicular to a guitar neck. That caused a lot of tension, pain in left hand, arm, shoulder. Form that time I was unable to play legato with my ring and pinky fingers. There is too much force in a grip of the guitar neck. I am 40 years old now and just find out from other YT video that this could be focal distonia... Many thanks for the video!
all guitar teachers must learn the anatomy of body parts and how to use them to play or do things effortlessly and less tension. All universities, music conservatories and music schools can use this book and lessons (playing with ease) be part of basic syllabus.
I agree, absolutely! I don’t know why this must be a slow revelation in the guitar world. If one looks at the foundational elements of the bow arm technique in string instrumentalists; to draw a firm/robust sound from a violin, for example, one needs to link the lower back muscles to the bow arm, even if it’s just in their imagination to begin with. Once the student realizes and feels that all muscles are interlinked, their sound ‘blossoms’, and that’s no different on a guitar. I often have my students “wipe an imaginary window” with their right hand/arm while they feel their lower back muscles with the left, to get them to feel the link between muscle groups. With practice, their dynamic range on the guitar increases almost immediately!
All this is to say thank you, David for putting so much valuable information out there. I will buy your book! :)
Thank you, Tariq! I like your "wipe an imaginary window" image - excellent!
I had a form of focal dystonia, pinched nerve, could not keep my fingers aligned, a dysfunctional tight mess. This book completely over haul my comfort levels. I can now play for three hours straight without tightening up, take a break and go for another three hours. I no longer need a sky hook to pry me off of my adjustable musician chair. The most valuable instruction method that I have.
Hi David, after following your approach described in the book and those videos for about a year, I have completely cured my focal dystonia. I now feel completely natural again playing the guitar, have developed a much better tone, and understand so much on what "playing with ease" really means. I am 50 years old but super excited to many years of playing ahead of me. Thank you so much for your lesson and insights. Cheers, - Feng
Hi Feng, what exactly was your issue. My happened over 20yrs back and I hardly ever can play legato with my ring and pinky since that time. If you have any tips or advice how to get rid of this to share it would be great! It is very lifting to read that some are overcome the problem!
I started having focal dystonia with my right-hand index finger (uncontrollably curling in) in June 2019, merely 10 months after I began seriously practicing classical guitar (I practiced 1 1/2 hour a day for 10 months). After my futile visits to hand surgeons, chiropractors and lots of web content, I finally found David Leisner's approach. I am now 4 months into my recovery, and can confirm I am making significant progress - David's large muscle group approach definitely works. I have no doubt I will completely recover soon, and become a stronger and better player. Thank you David for sharing your experience - your book and videos have done wonder for me and I am sure others will benefit from it.
This is incredible, Feng Meng! I am so grateful that my book is helping you and that you let us know about your experience. Please don't hesitate to contact me (through my website, davidleisner.com) if you have any questions, but it sounds like you are doing wonders on your own!
Absolutely David, I will contact you via your website to see if I can take a lesson with you. When I first contracted focal dystonia I was so devastating, because nothing worked - not my mind, body and finger. I found quite a few professional players who have all experienced this but had troubles curing it. Your approach finally put me on the right path, which, plus my tremendous patience, persistence and faith, started working. I think every beginner and professional player should study your method to prevent injuries. Now I want to know how I can accelerate my recovery. Hope to speak to you soon. Thank you! - Feng
Wonderful,@@fengmeng55, I look forward to hearing from you when the time is right for you. In the meantime, congratulations on your improvement so far!
Super book! Thank you for writing it. I am so excited about my guitar playing possibilities now!
Thank you, Hayes! I'm excited for you!
As Dilbert says, “humans are no more [nor less] than moist machines.” That metabolism and how it affects performance should a subject of controversy is mysterious to me. Thanks for bringing this up as a foundational aspect of concert preparation. You phrase it (all) elegantly and you (thereby) remove the fear of confrontation that some might have when discussing technique. I look forward to studying this book. Thank you!
When I was teenager I went for a guitar lesson (I`been paying since about 2 years at the time). My teacher set my left hand in a "proper" position - fingers perpendicular to a guitar neck. That caused a lot of tension, pain in left hand, arm, shoulder. Form that time I was unable to play legato with my ring and pinky fingers. There is too much force in a grip of the guitar neck. I am 40 years old now and just find out from other YT video that this could be focal distonia... Many thanks for the video!
all guitar teachers must learn the anatomy of body parts and how to use them to play or do things effortlessly and less tension. All universities, music conservatories and music schools can use this book and lessons (playing with ease) be part of basic syllabus.