Piano Forum

Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: koeni on February 14, 2003, 07:45:05 PM

Title: hand pain
Post by: koeni on February 14, 2003, 07:45:05 PM
hi to all


is there anybody who can help me
i am teaching myself to play the piano at my 50
i have a full education on music and played the violin for years.
This is what happens to me:practising i get always pain in my right hand,as if it is getting stiff.
happens not in my left hand.Could this be a hand position problem.Do i have to rest my fingers more in the keys?Pain appears very quickly.

tks for advice

koeni-belgium
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: Rachmanoinoff on February 16, 2003, 03:49:55 AM
Hmmmm....

I have this problem too, sometimes.  

Various people have different types of hands... however, if you've been playing for years then this would seem like a fairly odd problem!  Try not to play so "harshly" (if you know what I mean), and as I said in a previous post to someone, don't act as though you're actually playing the piece, unless you have an audience.  Play slowly, and be relaxed.  Calm.

Hope this helps!

Martin
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: tosca1 on February 20, 2003, 07:42:28 AM
As a violin player, you would have developed digital dexterity in the left hand as the right hand holds the bow. Whenever you have pain it is a warning that there is a problem.  As a trained musician you are possibly trying to play piano music that your right hand is not yet ready to play.  
The acquisition of piano technique is a slow process and it must not be forced.
Do not attempt to play if your hand is painful and do slow, relaxed practice.

Take care,
Robert.
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: rachfan on February 21, 2003, 03:45:51 AM
The worst kind of hand pain appears on the top (back) of the hand. Even accomplished pianists can experience this occasionally.  It more often than not appears during repetitive practice of a troublesome and challenging part in the piece.  And these are often pianists who understand the role of the entire playing mechanism, arm weight, touch, choreography of the hands, etc.

The main point to realize is that the saying "no pain, no gain" is entirely invalid and has no place in practicing piano.  So if you get pain on the back of the hand, stop playing at once and leave the keyboard.  After a while that sense of tension will subside.  In the interim you can study away from the piano.  Take the score, sit in a chair, and examine details in the notation, think about matters of interpretation, mark things to be emphasized in performance, and analyze that difficult part for possible solutions.  Only return to the piano after sufficient rest and relaxation has made the discomfort totally disappear.  If it reappears in subsequent practice, just call it a day.  There's always tomorrow, and the sheet music will still be waiting for you.
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: koeni on February 21, 2003, 11:49:53 PM
tks for the advice

searchin the net ive found some places that might serve you too.I did find them great!

go and have a look
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: koeni on February 21, 2003, 11:56:53 PM
forgot the adresses


http://www.pianoinjurycure.nethttp://

https://members.aol.com/chang8825/entirebook.htmhttp://


let me know your opinion please
Title: Re: hand pain
Post by: Garrett_Smith on February 27, 2003, 06:31:50 PM
I am a Java programmer. I am a guitarist. I play the piano (however badly), and I lift very heavy in the gym.

This is how I deal with it.

* Pay attention to my hands and wrists
* Warm up thoroughly and play slowly
* Break about once per hour
* Soak my hands in hot water and stretch each finger and then my wrists
* Have my wife step on my palms.

Paying attention to how I feel is the most important. When it is cold, I wear gloves. Before I do something (e.g. pick up a box, open a heavy door), I think about my hands. I often have to get a more comfortable grip.

Soaking and stretching is very helpful, as is having my wife step on my palms (as odd as it sounds). You should try accupuncture instead of having someone step on your palms if you can afford that.