(CNN) Dagmar Turner wasn't just showing off when she played the violin during her brain surgery at King's College Hospital in London.

Surgeons asked the 53-year-old to play her instrument to ensure that the professional violinist's musical abilities were not damaged during a tumor removal.

The tumor, in her right frontal lobe, was dangerously close to areas of her brain that were responsible for coordinating delicate movements in her left hand. These regions are crucial for playing the violin, and in some spots, their distance from the tumor was as narrow as a credit card.

"The violin is my passion. I've been playing since I was 10 years old," Turner said in a February 18 news release . "The thought of losing my ability to play was heart-breaking."

Dr. Keyoumars Ashkan, a neurosurgeon, came up with this creative solution.

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