Help me please... relax while playing piano

[fenz]

Hi all,
I have a problem in playing piano. I can't relax play piano. I can't release energy through my fingers, I feel strain in my shoulders. Can anyone give me tips how to relax while playing piano? Thanks for yourhelp

[go12_3]

 fenz:   I don't know what your background is in playing the piano.  Have you played extensively over a period of time?  And are you a student that has pressures to learn particular pieces?  Whatever that is the cause of stress, can make you not relax while you play piano.  Do some other activites to get your mind off to help you relax.  Go for a walk in the park.  Take some deep breaths.  Exercises(for the back, deltroids and shoulders) are good also, to ease the strain.  Even finger exercises(open and close your hands a few times).  Roll your neck around slowly to relieve the tension through your neck and shoulders.  Do the shoulder shrugs a few times.  Just take it easy and enjoy yourself and your music and what it can do for you.  Don't worry so much about making mistakes(say, I make a lot of mistakes and keep playing) as you practice. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[healdie]

Chloroform?

[go12_3]

Chloroform?

Now, why didn't I think of that also? 

[fenz]

I don't know what your background is in playing the piano.  Have you played extensively over a period of time?  And are you a student that has pressures to learn particular pieces?

No, I don't played extensively over a period of time. I'm learning Mozart Sonata KV 311 3rd mov. The problem is I can play the piece slowly, but when I increase the speed, I can't play fastly. I feel strain in my shoulders and couldn't move my fingers quickly.

By the way, thanks for your help. I'll try it. And if you have more idea please tell me what should I do 

[go12_3]

Now, yesterday morning while I was practicing, my fingers wouldn't go quickly.  So I keep doing the Hanon, slowly at first, thinking of each finger to strike each key, and then I increase the speed, once I feel my fingers going. A Sonatina is another good piece to play and help with speed and dexerity.  Hope that you will feel more relaxed as you continue to practice. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[fenz]

thanks... i'll try it 

[go12_3]

thanks... i'll try it 

You are most welcome!   

[fenz]

go12_3, i had tried play slowly first and then increase my speed, and it's work!! although it needs more times to practice it slowly, but after i can increase the speed, i play it more easily   
thanks for your help 

[go12_3]

go12_3, i had tried play slowly first and then increase my speed, and it's work!! although it needs more times to practice it slowly, but after i can increase the speed, i play it more easily   
thanks for your help 

You are most welcome, fenz, just keep up the good practice!   

[tsagari]

go12_3, i had tried play slowly first and then increase my speed, and it's work!! although it needs more times to practice it slowly, but after i can increase the speed, i play it more easily   
thanks for your help 

What you just said is the answer to your problem "slow practice" I did not believe that myself" but you have to have faith in slow practice. Recentrly I am working on a Czerny etude and my hand was so stressed, I reach at a point that I could not play no more.
My teacher insisteaded in slow practice, set the metronome at 80 for every 18th note which is realy slow but then the miracle cames and you know the good thing is that you play at speed without even trying to play faster and faster and faster. The only prerequisite for slow practice to work is that you should learn the piece from memory even if you practice using the score.

[xnapoleonx]

Move while your playing, live the melody

[fenz]

What you just said is the answer to your problem "slow practice" I did not believe that myself" but you have to have faith in slow practice. Recentrly I am working on a Czerny etude and my hand was so stressed, I reach at a point that I could not play no more.
My teacher insisteaded in slow practice, set the metronome at 80 for every 18th note which is realy slow but then the miracle cames and you know the good thing is that you play at speed without even trying to play faster and faster and faster. The only prerequisite for slow practice to work is that you should learn the piece from memory even if you practice using the score.

yess... but i still wonder why we can play at the speed if we play slowly first... do you have any idea?

[tsagari]

yess... but i still wonder why we can play at the speed if we play slowly first... do you have any idea?

I took me quite some time to believe that this is something that happens because it is contrary to logic or common sense. But I have seen it happening and I was wondering why. Well think about athlets spreeders for example how they work. I do not think that they run fast all the time. They are preparing the body to run fast. I think that applies to pianists you are preparing your mind. When you play slow, after you are confortable with the whole piece, I think you are helping your brain to work effectively. It is not our hands that are playing fast but the brain and you need a good print to your brain, if you understand what I am saying.
Conclusion "The stronger  the print in your brain the better control you have upon the piece you are playing" Fast play do not necessarily helps towards this goal.

[go12_3]

Fenz:
It takes finger action and coordination to increase the speed of playing a piece.  How about playing a section a few times until you feel that your mind and fingers are knowing what they are doing.  It is a mind thing to get the fingers going. Practice each hand separate which will enable you to firmly form the fingering and technique of each hand.  Why some students tense up is because they are not sure on what they(in their mind) and their fingers are doing.  Therefore, slow practice can help build confidence and relaxation.  I ask myself, "what is the hurry?"  There is no need to hurry to learn a piece.  Enjoy what you are learning and the benefits will come along in due time. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[fenz]

Thanks everyone for all of your help 

And one question again : Should I practice slowly most of the time I practice or only in the difficult part of the piece? How can I practice efficiently? Thanks

[go12_3]

Thanks everyone for all of your help 

And one question again : Should I practice slowly most of the time I practice or only in the difficult part of the piece? How can I practice efficiently? Thanks

From another post by Bernhard, he mentions to practice 5 to 10 minute blocks and do in sections of a piece.  He said do 5-10 minutes a day on the easy pieces and the challenging pieces to 30-45 minutes a day; and repeat something 7 times a section where you have a problem.  I think you might find this information useful so you won't get tired from over practicing.  You can read Bernhard's posts and gain some insight to practicing tips too.   

[csharp_minor]

thinking of each finger to strike each key

If I want to play in a relaxed way I think about 'feeling' the keys rather then striking the keys, unless the keys do need to be striked as in staccato playing etc. Its a mental attitude and an awareness of a relxed posture and releasing tension in the fingers ( or wrists, arms ) once it has depressed the key, that I feel helps me to relax while playing.

[go12_3]

If I want to play in a relaxed way I think about 'fleeling' the keys rather then striking the keys,

I am aware there are many ways of *striking* the keys.  What I mean by striking is with a firm touch so that the sound will come through, as in a fast tempo piece.   Yes, for staccato the touch has to be striked or *pop* or *peck*.   But, the tips of the fingers are quite sensitive to touching and so in a slower piece I do sink into the keys more to produce a warm and rich tone and therefore the arms, wrists and body needs to be relaxed.  But, the whole body has to be relaxed in order to feel comfortable in whatever piece , fast or slow, we play.  If I find myself tensing up, I loosen up mentally.  Do you use your elbows as you feel the keys, csharp?  I was just wondering....

best wishes,

go12_3 

[go12_3]

I am sorry about the messed up post I did      This quote thing is new to me when I need to comment on a member's quote!   I need help on that please!!!   

[csharp_minor]

Do you use your elbows as you feel the keys, csharp?  I was just wondering....

Hello Go

I suppose you could ‘feel the keys pushing up your hand and arm from the elbow if you really relax it after striking a chord in forte playing etc... otherwise I really meant I use my hand to ‘feel’ the way the keys react to touch. I only realised this after playing Hannon excises they helped me to become aware of the tension needed to make a key sound and the need to relax the finger, hand, arm etc after the note had sounded.

As for the quoting thing make sure the words ‘[ quote ]  or  ‘[ quote / ]’ is not after or before you own writing or the coding will think you want to turn your own writing into a quote .

[go12_3]

Hello Go

I suppose you could ‘feel the keys pushing up your hand and arm from the elbow if you really relax it after striking a chord in forte playing etc... otherwise I really meant I use my hand to ‘feel’ the way the keys react to touch. I only realised this after playing Hannon excises they helped me to become aware of the tension needed to make a key sound and the need to relax the finger, hand, arm etc after the note had sounded.

As for the quoting thing make sure the words ‘[ quote ]  or  ‘[ quote / ]’ is not after or before you own writing or the coding will think you want to turn your own writing into a quote .

Thanks, csharp for clarifying about the feel of the keys. And I do know about tension too, that it can be felt through the hands and up the arms.  There are times I have to breathe and let the mechanics of my fingers go.  ( And this quote thing is still a mystery to me,   lol )