Loose wrists

[starstruck5]

I have just returned to playing the piano after a spell away from the keyboard.  I have noticed that my wrists and arms are hurting. I don't know if this is because I am rusty and trying to do too much too soon - or whether there is an intrinsic problem with my technique. I was always taught to play with my fingertips, with my wrist generally raised above the level of the keys. I have discovered that I can play arpeggios far more securely by keeping my hand almost paralell to the keys and striking with the pads of my fingers -and not the tip - I seem to gain in a feeling of security, but loose that feeling of floating over the keys.

I try to keep my arms and wrists loose, but tension must be creeping in - wish I knew how to prevent this happening.

I have been practising the much hated Hanon, in order to get both hands playing evenly again - thinking not of each note seperately, but each finger playing two notes as if they were one - I am getting better. 

How do you get a technique like this though!!!  Are there any books which show you how?

[nyiregyhazi]

I have just returned to playing the piano after a spell away from the keyboard.  I have noticed that my wrists and arms are hurting. I don't know if this is because I am rusty and trying to do too much too soon - or whether there is an intrinsic problem with my technique. I was always taught to play with my fingertips, with my wrist generally raised above the level of the keys. I have discovered that I can play arpeggios far more securely by keeping my hand almost paralell to the keys and striking with the pads of my fingers -and not the tip - I seem to gain in a feeling of security, but loose that feeling of floating over the keys.

I try to keep my arms and wrists loose, but tension must be creeping in - wish I knew how to prevent this happening.

I have been practising the much hated Hanon, in order to get both hands playing evenly again - thinking not of each note seperately, but each finger playing two notes as if they were one - I am getting better.  

How do you get a technique like this though!!!  Are there any books which show you how?

The explanation is usually very simple. Either you're trying to use your arms to press through your fingers, or you're bracing your wrist to stop your arms responding to finger movements. If it's the latter you need to start moving your fingers more and get them to be more supportive (without pressing against them). If it's the latter, stop thinking that you have to stay in the same place with your wrist and start noticing how it wants to respond when you move your fingers. Instead of locking up, observe what movements would naturally occur and find an alternative way to balance them out.