relaxation tecnhiques

[hyrst]

Hi,
How do you teach / learn relaxation of the shoulders, arms and wrists?  Do you use any particualr techniques, or is it something that a student needs to learn through self- wareness?

Thanks

[Bob]

Squeeze and release.

Focus on it.

Slow movements.

Pretend the part is warming up.

Squeeze, take a deep breath, release the breath as you release the tensed muscle.

Make sure the student can play the piece so they have nothing to tense up over. 

If that's what you meant.  They have to be able to relax first before they can relax while playing the piano.

Swing the arms around while keeping the fingertips on the keyboard.

Dropping into the keys.  Drop just a finger.  Drop the hand.  Lift and drop the wrist.  Lift and drop the forearm while keepng the hand relaxed.  Lean and let your body fall forward so the relaxing of your body leans your torso into your arms-hands-keys.

Twist the torso in the chair.  Slowly unwind.

Lean back and forward, side-to-side in the chair.

Clear your mind.

Send Bob $5 to help him relax.

Make sure the room temperature is right so you can actually relax.

Run your hands/arms under warm water to warm them up that way.

They have to practice relaxing.  A little bit each day will capture their relaxation work just like any other kind of practicing.

[hyrst]

Thanks Bob

[counterpoint]

What's the reason for being not relaxed?

The cause lies in the head. You think "what a hard passage, what a difficult chord, what a strange melody, what a difficult jump!" and instantly the muscles cramp.
If you think "this passage will make fun, what a nice chord, what a beautiful  out-of-the-world melody, what a daring jump!", the muscles are not alarmed - but in a state of joyful  "let's do it" mode.
You can't play without muscle action, but often anxiety let's muscles cramp instead of doing some simple motion. I say it again: The cause lies in the head!

[Bob]

Another one...

Play a phrase, then pause and conscious relax.  Repeat through the whole piece. 

I have notice EVERYTHING gets captured when you practice.  Sometimes I try to get rid of certain things -- tension, negative impressions of thing -- while I practice.  So for some pieces, I go in focusing on being relaxed.  Or focusing on enjoying the piece.  Because I noticed other things, like feeling feeling rushed or feeling like I 'have to play to gosh darned piece' will get captured as I practice the piece.

[hyrst]

Thanks guys :-)