Grip

[in_love_with_liszt]

Does anyone find that having a strong grip helps their piano playing? From so many years of doing everything with curved fingers I had an incredibly weak grip, and now that I'm moving away from that obsession my grip is getting stronger as I actually use my hands to do other things, however playing piano is a bit more difficult because my hands are sore. I'm guessing this will pass after my hands get used to doing things normally again, but does anyone know if one of those "grip strengthener" devices are a bad idea for pianists?

[liszmaninopin]

I have found that piano strengthens my grip quite a bit.  I have by far the strongest grip in my class, but I do no exercises for my hands other than piano itself.  I don't think pianists really need grip strengtheners.  They certainly couldn't hurt, however, if used properly.

Remember, piano isn't really a sport, so one doesn't need huge levels of strength.  Flexibility of the hands and a lack of tension are far more important-as well as mental concentration.

[donjuan]

I think piano would develop the muscles on the back fo your hand- you know...
If you lay your hand flat on the table, palm down, and try to lift your fingers (not using the other hand of course)

I dont think piano has anything to do with the grip.  My teacher tells me it is all in the fingertips, elbow, and wrist.

[bernhard]

Really, the only time you will need a strong grip is when moving the piano.

[bernhard]

 My teacher tells me it is all in the fingertips, elbow, and wrist.

Get your teacher an anatomy book!

[rlefebvr]

The only time I need a strong grip, I am not sitting at the piano....

[donjuan]

The only time I need a strong grip, I am not sitting at the piano....

I dont know if I am understanding you right, but... if so, whoa!! too much information!!!

[shotkong64x]

I am a certified "captian of crush"   which means i closed the #3 gripper (which is 280 lbs of resistance)   but ah...  Im also a beginner at piano so i couldnt really tell ya if it helps.  I am learning very fast though 

[sznitzeln]

I have taken in a lot of information about piano technique from different resources recently. I am aware of the "new" theories about fingers not being so important, and that you should use larger muscle groups, and also of the "old" school with hanon, etc, where fingers are emphasises. I strongly believe that you need a synthesis of these theories. Heinrich Neuhaus speaks a lot of thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis.
He also recommends doing pushups on your fingertips...
I think many pianists automaticly have sufficiently strong hands, but pianist with long, thin fingers often need supplementary strengthening excercises for the hand.
Such training has helped me ENORMOUSLY. Sure, co-ordination of the whole body is essential too, but if the fingers arent even capable of taking a chord, or pinky on black key, without large strain, of course there will be enourmous problems when speed is increased, even if the co-ordination is perfect.
So yes grip is important, maybe baking bread is good for you hands

Jacob

[steinwayguy]

Heinrich Neuhaus speaks a lot of thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis.

Beautiful!!! Neuhaus is a demi-God.



One of my friends is an absurdly natural player. He can play pretty much anything without even bothering to think about technique. His "grip muscles" (if you can call them that) are obscenely strong, but I think this is a rare case, and besides, it happened to him naturally.


And playing the piano is a sport! We just use extremely small muscles.

[sznitzeln]

HAHA, I agree, You cant deny its a sport... A synthesis of sport and music

[BoliverAllmon]

I am a certified "captian of crush"   which means i closed the #3 gripper (which is 280 lbs of resistance)   but ah...  Im also a beginner at piano so i couldnt really tell ya if it helps.  I am learning very fast though 

how far are you from no. 4? is there still only one person in the world that has done it?

boliver

[sznitzeln]

gripper = gripmaster?
i though there was only 3 levels

[BoliverAllmon]

yeah number 4 is 365 lbs and only Joe Kinney has ever closed it successfully. Though his 12 year old son has done number 2 and looks like he may join daddy someday with number 4.
you can see info about it at
https://sfuk.tripod.com/reviews/coc_1.html

boliver