Is it possible to play musical instruments when you have Parkinson’s Disease? Well, the answer of course depends on various factors. So I can only speak for myself with the a complex response. When I was first diagnosed, I continued to play my acoustic guitar. When the tremors made it impossible to form and especially hold the chords, I simply stopped playing. I missed it, but thought it was just part of the process. Read on.
When we moved from the north to the south, we decided not to bring the piano we had, because I rarely played. Work, family and just plain life got in the way. Once we were settled in and I had time to explore some fun, I regretted not having those keys around to play. However, not long after we moved, the tremors were in full force and I had no control of where they would set down on the keyboard. I had recognized that Parkinson’s and playing guitar and piano were not going to happen anymore.
Like most things with Parkinson’s, I decided it was not going to stop me from doing something I enjoy; Fast forward, this Christmas my kids (grown adults) brought in a huge wrapped box and placed it by the tree (too large to fit under it). I assumed it was a surfboard,large fishing pole or something else. When they brought it to me and I opened it, I was overwhelmed to the point of crying tears of joy. It was a piano keyboard with the real weighted keys (important for people with Parkinson’s )
My joy quickly changed to anxiety as I feared my somewhat shaky and very stiff fingers could not and would not allow me to play. Then I warmed up by moving my clumsy fingers on the keys and practicing some chords that I had stored away in the brain. It was magical how my fingers loosen up and I could actually read the notes to Amazing Grace, strike the correct keys (more or less)and make music. It is no coincidence that the first song I played was that one because I felt the Grace of God in my fingers and it was Amazing. Amen.
