A possible cure for back pain.

[zheer]

Recently i discoverd that  one of the reason why pianists suffere from back pain is because he/she is sitting to high on the piano bench. I find that by sitting low, one is then forced to lengthen upwards therefore not hunched over the piano. I also discoverd that a good way to maintain a sitting position at the same time as playing the Liszt sonata for example, is by balancing a book on your head , if this book falls to the ground at some point during the sonata, it might mean that the demands of the piece is causing the performer physical discomfort.
   

    What are your thoughts.

[joachimf]

Hmm.. Haven't thought that much about it yet, but I think I agree with that sitting lower may be better. But I'm not too sure about the book-trick, IMHO it's better to move a little during playing (though, mainly upperbody, not the head that much)

[crazy for ivan moravec]

i think the best is still the "standard" sitting position of having just the right level of the arm to the keyboard. sitting lower can sometimes give you a hard time putting the weight on the keys, and sometimes it the arm can hurt this way if it's low.

the best way IMO to get rid of back pain is the conscious effort and concentration to relax while playing. i put a mirror on the rack so as to check my shoulders if they're down, and i write out "RELAX" on that mirror to remind me always.

[zheer]

i put a mirror on the rack so as to check my shoulders if they're down, and i write out "RELAX" on that mirror to remind me always.

  LOL, the idea behind the balancing a book on your head is, that you dont need to look in the mirror. Because any unnecessary Body movement will be intantly revealed to the pianist, since the book will fall on the ground

   The thing about hurting your arm, well i have a answer for that, but please dont laugh. Put a full glass of water on the piano, if a single drop of water drops on the piano, that means you are using to much force. I know am a nurd ( you can still play FFF )

[pianistimo]

bench height IS really important - esp. since everyone is a different height.  i always try to adjust the bench to the right height (nice if you have an adjustable bench) or get a chair that is better (slightly lower).  as you say - if you practice for long hours - it's terrible for your back at the wrong height.

never tried the book idea.  my teacher suggested leaning back occasionally instead of me leaning forward so much.  the book might fall off if i leaned back a little.

toning up the lower back is mostly what helps me.  bicycling does that if you do it every day.  there's something about the motions when your lower back is stretched out slightly and you use the bike motions with legs.  i think our spine is sort of smushed during the day from sitting.  to either do floor exercises (which lengthen and elongate the spine - while exercising) or bicycling really makes a difference to me.  there are times when my back just won't hold up to an hour...and other times i can go for many hours (usually at the end of summer when i've had a lot more exercise and my back doesn't get sore).  there are muscles that hold everything up as well as the spine.  (for instance when the stomach muscles are tight- then you can suck it in and hold your spine up better.  but when you have sway back - it's bad).  if you concentrate on sucking it in - you can sit longer.  models do this because they are taught this pelvic tuck (making the back straighter and stomach less).

[crazy for ivan moravec]

  LOL, the idea behind the balancing a book on your head is, that you dont need to look in the mirror. Because any unnecessary Body movement will be intantly revealed to the pianist, since the book will fall on the ground

not really. a pianist has to relax but not remain seated like a statue so as not to make the book fall. any body movement doesn't necessarily mean one isn't relaxed. i can dance on stage and still be relaxed. on the contrary, a pianist may stiffen up trying to balance that book. the book may be a good practice for focus.

as for the mirror, it might not work for everyone because not everyone thinks the way i do. the mirror is just my personal way of making that conscious effort to relax, by seeing those shoulders down on the correct level, and being reminded by the sign "RELAX" that i should feel comfortable. sometimes those shoulders go up without even us feeling it, the tension just accumulates which then causes pain. and they go up so slowly that a book on your head doesn't fall.

[zheer]

not really. a pianist has to relax but not remain seated like a statue so as not to make the book fall. any body movement doesn't necessarily mean one isn't relaxed. i can dance on stage and still be relaxed. on the contrary, a pianist may stiffen up trying to balance that book. the book may be a good practice for focus.

 

   Did i once use the word relax, no i did'nt. I believe that as pianists we unconciously use our body the wrong way. Some thraw there head back, some touch the piano keys with there nose, the list can go on and on. Thus to be able to balance a book on ones head without looking or feeling like a statue,and in totall freedom  ,might possibly reveal the un-conciously performed act as we play the piano. You mentioned 2,  the shoulder and tension.

[crazy for ivan moravec]

sorry my bad. i was confused with the topic, i linked it automatically to relaxation... carry on...

[gruffalo]

does it help to do some stretches before plaing, as in sports stretches, just to relax. i dont do this because i dont know if its right or not, but i generally feel more relaxed after stretching.

[zheer]

does it help to do some stretches before plaing, as in sports stretches, just to relax. i dont do this because i dont know if its right or not, but i generally feel more relaxed after stretching.

  If you are one of those totally disiplend people, who can go for a jog at 6am every morning and practice yoga for 20minutes, then i guess a good healthy body will indirectly improve your pianio playing.