Tense arms and wrists

[kghayesh]

I have a major problem that my teacher is continuously telling me about it but I can't really change it, even though i really want to change and overcome it.

When I play for a long time, especially when playing hard pieces with demanding passages, chords and so, I feel some tension building in my wrist and lower palm. My teacher says it is because i am play while my muscles are tensed. So, continuous constant tension for a long time results in fatigue in muscles, which in turn makes me feel uncomfortable and so tired.

I was playing in a concert last year and I was playing Chopin's Ballade no.1 and the Revolutionary etude. As it is obvious, they are both demanding pieces. So, what happened was that near the half of the etude i felt soooo much pain in my left arm that i was literally playing almost any random notes with the left hand. In the descending scale at the end, I was playing it with the right hand only coz i felt my left hand was like seriously injured !! My left hand kept hurting me for about 1 hour after the concert .

So, it is obvious that this is due to some faulty technique or posture. The question is...... How can i change ??

[maxd]

the biggest thing I've noticed...which is actually tied to some religions and martial arts..

you must completely relax your entire body.

focus on your spinal column..

every musical action starts from your spinal column.

you will find that in this semi-spiritual totally relaxed state you will be about 400-600% more efficient, and things will come to you in a way which cannot be understood by the mind alone.

your technique will instantly change, and you will feel animated by something else..

the whole trick, I believe, is not to fear this element and let it take complete and utter control of your playing..within wisdom, of course..

[assante]

that's tough  to answer without actually seeing you play.
In a general way, i would say that tension = grabbing, clenching and immobility.
So to counter that state, you have to do the opposite, that is let go loose, and move a lot, i.e. activate the hand, fingers,knuckles,  wrists, elbows by moving them in every which way.
At first, chances are you'll be playing all kinds of wrong notes, feel totally stupid, like a rag doll, but out of this you'll discover things. Forget all principles or dogmas you may have as to how you should play or how you should hold the hand.
Experiment with stuff you've never done before and without a coach you have to simply try all combinations of movement you could think of. Within all that jumble of possibilities i'm pretty sure lies your solution.

 

[comma]

So, it is obvious that this is due to some faulty technique or posture. The question is...... How can i change ??

Change your teacher. Believe me, if he can't help you to play in a smooth, relaxed way he is not good for you. Just to say "relax" is not enough. He has to show you the technique that allows you to do so. As soon as you can rely on a proper technical basis relaxation will come automatically.

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https://www.pianistenschule.de

[teresa_b]

I think being aware of your body sensations during your practice is the key.  I've had similar problems--I discovered my tension was worst in my shoulder muscles--Sometimes I was tightening them so much I got pain up and down the neck and back.  I have improved this by actively noticing while practicing when I felt the muscles tense, and then relaxing them immediately.  At some point I found I was playing with less tension much of the time. 


Good luck!
Teresa

[kghayesh]

Change your teacher. Believe me, if he can't help you to play in a smooth, relaxed way he is not good for you. Just to say "relax" is not enough. He has to show you the technique that allows you to do so. As soon as you can rely on a proper technical basis relaxation will come automatically.

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https://www.pianistenschule.de

Well, i can't really change my teacher. She is the one who told me about the relaxation problem !!! I don't think anyone can just point out that i have a problem in tension !

[comma]

Well, i can't really change my teacher. She is the one who told me about the relaxation problem !!!

She shouldn't tell you about the problem. She should solve it. But it's your decision.

[kghayesh]

She shouldn't tell you about the problem. She should solve it. But it's your decision.

She tells me how to solve it of course, by relaxing my arms and moving them while i am playing. But, I just can't always apply this in my playing!! That's the problem