How to ease back and neck tension?

[lisztisforkids]

I have a terrible problem with back and neck tension. It gets so bad sometimes that it gets really difficult to play. I think it has something to do with my posture, which I have been working on fixing for a little while. Does anybody have any ideas about how to stay lose?

[thalbergmad]

Massage always works for me old chap.

[richard black]

Sit lower?

[Petter]

stretching!

[keypeg]

If you are working on your posture, is there anyone to advise you?  A knowledgeable teacher or even pianist sometimes should be able to see what it is you are doing.  The problem isn't always where we think it is.  A few months ago in something unrelated to piano which I thought invoved shoulders or lower back actually had some of the solution in the ankles.    Where we hold tension, how we move, or how high the sheet music sits, how good your eyes are, the height of your bench, pedal, how you pedal, whether you tense in your hand .... it could be many things that work their way back into posture.  That's why it's best if someone who knows what they are doing observes you and works with you.

[guendola]

A helpful method for relaxing tense muscles is active tensionm relief. For that, take control over the muscles involved by contracting them even more, release after 5 seconds.

If you cannot do that, sit down on a chair or lie down on your back as relaxed as possible, then start by contracting and releasing your toe muscles, slowly work up to the eyebrows and do the same for each muscle that you remember (in pairs, or even tenth when it comes to toes and fingers).

When playing piano, tense muscles are wrong. A bit of tension is often needed temporarily but not constantly. So your second task is to identify each and every movement or technique that makes you tense and find a better alternative. This sounds harder than it is but of course it needs some time and probably a teacher as well.

PS: I hope you worked on your own posture and not on somebody elses. It is important to develop a posture that works for you, no matter how close or far away it is from "the perfect posture". Each body is a bit different. But any experienced teacher should be able to tell you when you get tense and name possible causes and alternatives. The rest is up to you.

I had these problems too, when I restarted piano playing after a break of around 25 years. and what I suggested definitely helped me.

Keeping in mind that good piano playing does not hurt also helps a lot to identify possible causes.

[mikebechstein]

No offence to anyone who has posted advice but, with back and neck problems particularly, you should go and see a chiropractor for an assessment. (As someone says above, the problem is not always where the pain is.) I spent years doing certain exercises with different people’s advice, and seeing physiotherapists, and it was only when I saw a chiro that my specific problem was diagnosed and then rectified.