I was just wondering about tension in the arms. I had several piano teachers for the past 9-10 years who never mentioned tension in the arms/wrists, but my current one said it's necessary to keep the arms and wrists loose.

My question is how/what can I practice to help me develop loose arms and wrists. I know that when I play, my wrists and arms hurt and then my teacher critiques me always saying something about the tension... My piano teacher does it so easily, yet I can barely manage to keep my wrists/arms loose. I especially have trouble with this when I'm doing scales, bouncing (such as malaguena, ragtime, or any piece with a jumping hand), and pieces such as inventions or waltzes. I just can't get it right... if someone could explain how to do it or link me to a site in which I can learn, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Also, how do I add weight to the music without tightening wrists? Would lifting weights make it easier for me to put weight for my dynamics (because I lack muscles, I'm really skinny)?

Chapter II: The Student Begins Work (Excerpt)

The first thing the pupil must learn is to relax the arm muscles, as in the case when we walk. To attain this I lift the pupil's arm, which should be stretched out at the height of the shoulder but must remain absolutely inert. I then draw away my hand, and the arm must drop down as if dead. In this manner a feeling for relaxing the muscles can be obtained.

The hand has, when one is walking, normally a slight bend; that is, the fingers are slightly curved inwards, which never tires the muscles; whereas the outstretching or continous greater bending of the fingers somewhat exerts, strains and tires the muscles. The natural position of the hand with relaxed muscles, as is the case when we walk, should be the principal one when playing the piano. When playing, the fingers should be, for the most part, slightly curved, and a pressing through (breaking down) of the knuckle joints should be avoided as far as possible.

The player should sit well forward on the chair, without a support for the back. The upper part of the body should incline slightly forward; the upper arm, bent forward, should hang loosely from the shoulder joint. The seat should be high enough to allow the lifted lower arm to be on a level with the keyboard.

Another important point, in which my playing differs from that usually seen, consists in the elimination of all unnecessary movements. Repose and the avoiding of all unnecessary movements are absolutely necessary, when one intends to play in a decided manner. Any uneasiness endangers not only the tone which is just struck, but also the following ones.

from The Shortest Way to Pianistic Perfection, by Karl Leimer[/b]

The only way to play with loose arms and writsts is to practice that way. My teacher has ben ragging on me to keep my arms/wrists loose since I first started playing, so I have had bit of an easier time with it. When your learning and practicing, just keep your body loose - it's that simple.

As for adding weight to your dynamics, I believe someone asked a similar question a few days ago. Keeping yourself loose is the answer. Lifting weights won't do anything for you, unless you just looking to get buff... if you tensen up the sound will be flat and ugly. If you remain loose and use the natural weight of your arm to hit chords, it will make a loud, round,and beautful sound. the technique is caled "drop weight" and comes from the Russian school of music.

This same thing happened to me actually. For the first 8 years of playing the piano my teacher never mentioned my hands/arms being tense, then as soon as I get a new teacher its the first thing he mentions. And now Im very thankful for the change because it has completely overhauled my technique. (in a good way )

To find this relaxation at the keys, I would recommend either taking a piece you already know and practise it in a relaxed, completely free, way. For me it was ragtime, as soon as I started learning that, and just let my hands bounce of the chords and octaves, I could transfer this relaxation and freedom to other pieces. And now Im at the point where I can catch myself when Im tense, and correct it.

Also, I don't know if you do sports or lift weights, but make sure you don't do it before practicing piano and especially before a recital. After a serious workout the muscles are tight and you can feel your pulse heavily in the arms and legs. This really hinders playing, aspecially smooth passages with lots of legato playing. It's happened to me quite a few times.

Hi, I also just started with a new teacher at the university, and he has learned me tremendous things about posture etc. etc. The position in which your arms must be - and believe me I thought it downright uncomfortable in the beginning - is for the elbows to point inwards. the way to get into this position stretching your arms in front of you, palms showing upwards, then, very importantly, just turn your HANDS so you can play on the piano, bu the rest of your arms must stay in that position the whole time. It's amazing how loose your fingers is!

Believe me, I know it sounds weird, but it really worked for me. I hope I've helped you a little.

Ronel

Stiffness cause loss of agility and speed, increases rate of stress and tiredness.

To use force, don't use it from your arms, your shoulders.

Imagine your body as a building, and your fingers as the pillars. In order to have good support, you must first strengthen your fingers.

Your stiff arms and hands are probably unconsciously compensating for your weak fingers. Practise your fingers, I did a detailed description of it under Page 1, in "Please, how do you play fast trills?".

but there's many other ways of strengthening your fingers, that's just one of them.

Once fingers are stronger, you may find that your hands can relax more, because you can play the piano using your fingers.

Now going back to the fingers as pillar thing, the body is basically, where the force comes in. Have you seen pianists literally jump out of their seats when they play something loud, or emotionally intense? The fulcrum here are your fingers, and your left thigh; the weight from your body travelling straight down these "pillars". Your shoulders, arms are its passage way. Your wrist guides your hand position, making your finger job easier.

You can also try playing that technique standing up, your body leaning towards your piano whilst maintaining the strength in your fingers. No collapsing!

I hope that helped.

Yes, Waterchild. That does help. Thank you.

i very much doubt what waterchild said, since i have read the different. Abby Whiteside for one advocated using entire arms (plus body sometimes) to play, while fingers just act as the power (from shoulder/arm) transfer mechanisim (structure) to keyboard. for fast playing (Chopin etudes for example) or good tone, the only way to play is to use arms. in another word, finger strength alone is not much of poinst. i believe what she and other teachers said are more accurate and i have benefitted from those advices.

from my own experience, finger strength is always limited unless one knows how to use arm to aid fingers.

I think what Waterchild describes, though, is[/b] arm/shoulder strength - the upperarm strength is being poured into the keys through the fingers.

The pillars themselves sink into the ground, but they really, really dig in when you pile on huge edifices on top of them.

you're right, i missed some of his saying. but when he's talking about getting finger strength, he's missing the point of using arm/shoulder strength (as you said).