alkan etude and forearm strain

[goldmember888]

Hi there everyone
Just wanted to know if anyone has any tips on how to practice/learn Alkan's Etude "Aesop's Feast"?
It is a monster of a work that I think will take some years to tame..

Also...

Has anyone ever experience any pain on the outer forearm muscles near the elbow when practicing and if so do you have any tips on how to help cure/relieve the tension? I find I get very tight in the winter months more noticably when practicing even after only 20 mins.  

Many thanks in advance and happy playing

Ari.

[scott13]

I found that pain occurs for me whilst playing Octaves, and i have had to just learn to play completely relaxed and the issue solved itself. If you do feel some pain, just take a 5-10 minute break and come back and try again, try to isolate what aspect of playing is causing it, then ask why? Relaxation is the key.

[pianowolfi]

Aren't these two synonymous? 




 

[pianowolfi]

But on a more serious level, I think your symptoms might be:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_elbow

So you might choose to stay away from this piece or change your practicing technique towards relaxation, as scott13 suggests.

[keyboardclass]

I'd recommend a flex bar.  I've never needed one but my guess is they work.