Posted by Charles Brooks on May 17, 1999 at 00:33:54:
In Reply to: Rock Climbing posted by Laura Wichers on May 16, 1999 at 01:40:34:
go for it!
I'm studying 'cello at postgraduate level in New Zealand and have been an avid Rock Climber for at least 3 years now - I climb about a grade 25 (new zealand grades) and have had nothing in terms of injuries that would suggest stoppng for the sake of my cello.
I get very tired of other students saying that they can't do any sport or exercise because of their hands and then complaining that they never have any energy! I find that if your hands are strong they become more resiliant and heal faster from any kind of injury - be it from rock climbing or cello (I have only had one rock climbing injury - I got some minor rope burn when on one of my first big falls I grabbed the rope in panic - which you should never do! - it went away in 2 days tho and didn't give me any problems what so ever).
I can't encourage you enough to take up this great sport - if you're studying at tertiary level it's a great opportunity to meat people that aren't musicians! (I think this is very important) and a great way to "get away" from everything now and then - just pop off to some out of the way crag and listen to the silence!
Maybe we could set up a clan of rock climbing cellists!