Meditate.... Breathe.... Now breathe *deeply* ;).... Be sure to
belly-breathe.... if your belly is not rising and falling your breath is not
deep... Relax ;)

With time pausing to take three deep, slow breaths should bring you into a
relaxed state.

Whatever works for you as a relaxation technique, build a mental image around
this and once you have it in your minds eye, then pick up the flute, lightly and
safely, as you wish to play it. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.... over time this builds
a "trigger" between the relaxed state and holding your flute.

I think I'd also remind myself it is OK to drop the flute. Not that we want to,
of course, but it will only add character to its life journey ;) Of course, I'm
assuming fear of dropping it may be related to the tension in your grip. But
whatever the source, resolve that and you should find you are relaxing.

In any event you will find your fingers move better and have greater flexibility
when relaxed. If you can, stand up, force your legs to be as stiff as possible,
and then try a smooth dance step. Compare this to standing relax and then taking
the same fluid dance step. Same thing is true for your fingers. You'll play with
greater ease as you are able to relax your fingers.

So there are my main suggestions. Worth at least half of what you paid for them
too! ;) ...what a deal!

Erik Weaver

--- In basic_naf_making@yahoogroups.com, "Country" <cgpo3@...> wrote:
>
> I've returned just now from the Phoenix VA. I took my flute down, along with
my beadwork (ask kieta about my beadwork) and a couple of other things, to
include a Chinese ocarina called a "xun."
>
> My chief complaint is arthritis pain in both thumbs. The doctor said there is
probably nerve damage, but definately a degradation of my two joints. He asked
to see me play these instruments. He made the following observation:
>
> I'm not a musician, but you look like you have a death grip on those
instruments.
>
> OK ... what I need to know is this ... I am interested in making these flutes,
but how can I relax my hands? My xun and shakuhachi must be learned over time,
but the NAS flute is my heart and what I love to play the most. What, how?
>
> Thanks
> Be well
> David
>