Tightness in my forearm!! Please help!!

[tpoplar]

So I've been playing classical piano for 20 years now (I'm only 23). I'm very advanced and study with a Van Cliburn silver medalist currently. I finished a piano performance degree last May, and actually had to take a year off of piano while I completed my music education degree. I'm starting to get back into the habit of practicing about 4 hours a day, and I've noticed a tightness in my left hand. There isn't pain per se, it's just very tight after say, 20 minutes of doing scales, and when I try to perform arpeggios it also becomes very tight in the hand and forearm.  I'm not sure if this is because I'm just out of shape and need to take things very slowly, or if there is an underlying medical condition (say tendinitis or carpal tunnel).

For my senior recital in college, I performed Barber's Sonata Op. 26. It's a difficult piece and I practiced for about 6 or 7 hours a day for about 3 months to master the piece (especially the fugue). If you're familiar with the piece, there is a lot of pounding on the hands, and I'm worried that I might have done some damage (although I'm not sure why I would be experiencing this a year later)?

Any advice on what I should do? Does this sound like I'm just out of shape, or is it tendinitis? Thank you!

[communist]

You should see a doctor about this ploblem. If it is not a medical condition than you should see how long you play easier stuff (E.G. Haydn sonatas, Bach Sinfonias). Also, try doing scales and arpeggios slower and see if that affects you.

[thalbergmad]

So I've been playing classical piano for 20 years now (I'm only 23). I'm very advanced and study with a Van Cliburn silver medalist currently.

I would have thought you were better off asking him.

Good luck with the barber.

Thal

[tpoplar]

Communist: when I play the scales slower I have no problem. It's just that I'm accustomed to playing them at a certain tempo, and I'm not quite sure why I can't play the scales at this tempo now (around 120). I also didn't want to bring this up to my teacher for fear that he'll drop me if he suspects I'm injured. He may not do this at all, I just didn't want to take the chance.

[thalbergmad]

I also didn't want to bring this up to my teacher for fear that he'll drop me if he suspects I'm injured.

He is more likely to drop you if he finds out later you didn't tell him.

Thal

[tpoplar]

He is more likely to drop you if he finds out later you didn't tell him.

Thal

What if it's just that I'm out of shape after taking a long time off? Why would I want to raise suspicions if there is nothing to be concerned about in the end. If there is an underlying medical condition, I will tell him. I don't have a doctor's appointment until June though, so I'm going to have to go the next month without knowing.

[thalbergmad]

Why would I want to raise suspicions if there is nothing to be concerned about in the end.

Piano teachers need to know everything (or at least mine does).

How can they give advice unless they are aware of everything??

Thal

[communist]

This may sound ridiculous, but try doing arm stretches before you practice.

[jazzyprof]

I also didn't want to bring this up to my teacher for fear that he'll drop me if he suspects I'm injured. He may not do this at all, I just didn't want to take the chance.

If your teacher is the kind of person who will simply drop a student for that reason, then you don't need to be studying with him.  A good teacher cares about a student's well being.  If a student complains of tightness and pain he will examine the student's technique to try to determine the underlying cause and then recommend a solution.  If he is unable to determine the cause he will recommend you see a specialist or perhaps a practitioner of something like the Taubman technique. 

Meanwhile, since you say there is no tightness when you practice slowly, why not set your metronome at a slow tempo (say 60 bpm) and practice your scales.  Then crank it up a notch and repeat.  Keep cranking up until you reach a tempo at which the tightness begins.  Back off a notch and make sure you are completely relaxed as you play.  Stay at that tempo for a while and then crank it up a notch again.  If the tightness returns then there really is a problem with technique/relaxation.  You should certainly talk to your teacher about it.