Facing difficulty while practising..

[tankshe]

Hi. I am quite new to this forum. I've been practicing Hanon's works for like 2 to 3 weeks time and every time i play it, my left arm muscles start to ache. I think my arm muscles are too tense. It has been like this for quite some time. Do you all have any suggestion to make them relax? Or what else problem am I probably facing? Thanks in advance..

[stevebob]

It's just about impossible to diagnose the specific problem over the internet, especially given how little information is known from your post, but my general conclusion is that you're overdoing it (i.e., too much, too often or too intensely) or practicing incorrectly with respect to form and/or posture.

I think the safest and most sensible advice would be to work with a teacher (if you're not already), or, at the very least, have an experienced and proficient pianist friend watch you practice and evaluate what you may or may not be doing wrong.

What are your goals?  What are your reasons for choosing to practice the Hanon exercises?

[tankshe]

It's just about impossible to diagnose the specific problem over the internet, especially given how little information is known from your post, but my general conclusion is that you're overdoing it (i.e., too much, too often or too intensely) or practicing incorrectly with respect to form and/or posture.

I think the safest and most sensible advice would be to work with a teacher (if you're not already), or, at the very least, have an experienced and proficient pianist friend watch you practice and evaluate what you may or may not be doing wrong.

What are your goals?  What are your reasons for choosing to practice the Hanon exercises?

Okay. Thanks for replying. It's like, I usually practice 3 to 4 times for each exercise. And I will use about 80-100 for the metronome. Then I will start to feel the pain, but it is not really as painful as stomachache. I practice Hanon exercises for improving the strength of my 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers and the clarity of the notes and the speed, too.

[birba]

You could burn the book, but that wouldn't solve the problem.  I assume you're studying with a teacher?

[tankshe]

You could burn the book, but that wouldn't solve the problem.  I assume you're studying with a teacher?

Yeah. I'm studying with a teacher. However, I don't really understand why are you asking me to burn the books? o.o

[peterjmathis]

Definitely ask your teacher to take a look at the way you're doing the exercises. They'll be able to tell if you're doing them correctly just by looking.

[birba]

Yeah. I'm studying with a teacher. However, I don't really understand why are you asking me to burn the books? o.o

Because Hannon tends to create tension in the hand and forearm if they aren't played with the correct technique, (i.e. complete relaxation of the playing apparatus)  Scales in all the different tonalities and simple four and five finger excercises suffice.  If I remember correctly (I never ever studied Hanon) there are also excercises with certain fingers held down that can be very detrimental to the hand if they aren't performed correctly.  But your teacher should be aware of this.

[synthex]

?

[tankshe]

Thanks for all of your replies. Looks like I'm really using a wrong technique to practice but I don't really know what's wrong with my technique. I really should ask my teacher.

@birba Could you please suggest me a way to relax my arm completely?

[birba]

I sent you a personal message.

[rmbarbosa]

I`ll tell you: dont play Hanon. Please, read in the Forum the posts about Hanon. Read C.Chang (Fundamentals of piano practice). There are a lot of ways to achieve a good technique without Hanon series. Download www.pianopractice.org/.
Best wishes
Rui

[tankshe]

I`ll tell you: dont play Hanon. Please, read in the Forum the posts about Hanon. Read C.Chang (Fundamentals of piano practice). There are a lot of ways to achieve a good technique without Hanon series. Download www.pianopractice.org/.
Best wishes
Rui

Okay. Thanks a lot.

[tankshe]

I sent you a personal message.

Thanks a lot. I've read it. I'll try to work on it..=)

[sitbon09]

When ever you feel pain something is wrong.  Please stop.  Rest and assess the problem with your teacher. You should never feel pain whilst playing and any pain means you are overdoing something or practicing with the wrong coordinate movements for that particular exercise.  I personally think Hanon isn't helpful or healthy as it was written prior to much contemporary knowledge about piano technique we know now.  A teacher is the best person to assist as long as they themselves are trained to an advanced level and can diagnose the problem.   If they can't them move on or take a few one on one sessions with someone reputable through a university or something.  Second to that take a look at the DVD/Books by Seymour Fink and Alan Fraser via Google.

Andrew

[keyboardclass]

I'd leave out the Frazer.  He insists on keeping tension in the hand at all time.  Most of his theories are bogus.  Fink is good, as is Matthay (free at archive.org), but they ain't no hill a'beans without a teacher who understands what they're saying.

[roseli]

I had something like that some weeks ago, turns out I was to low in relation to the piano.
I also had that muscle in the back of neck that helps to support the shoulders kind of tense, for that my teacher gave me some exercises to do.
no pain for me anymore! : D