Tennis and Piano

[williampiano]

Lately I've developed an interest in learning to play tennis, but I was wondering, could playing this sport bring about any risks that could potentially hinder my piano playing abilities? Could I easily damage my wrist, or something along those lines? Could any tennis players on here give me some advice on problems to look out for when starting out or risks I should keep in mind?

Thank you

[gvans]

I've taken up tennis again a bit as well. It's not ideal playing piano immediately afterward, but after a few hours rest my hands, fingers, and wrists seem OK.

Beware the extensor tendonitis that is so common in tennis playing (tennis elbow)--not a good thing for piano. The key is to move your feet to get to the ball (especially with backhand) and not over-extend when you stroke. Get there, and relax with the hit. This helps avoid the injury. Also, I've been using a two-handed backhand lately and, while it's hard for me to master, it sure is easy on the shoulders and elbows.

I think it's good to stay in shape, especially if you're performing full programs. You need stamina and strength to play for an hour and one-half in front of an audience, and sports helps that immeasurably.

[johnmar78]

I noticed concert pianist, avoid heavy loadings on hands or fingers. Mainly tHAT PIANO playing lys on delicate finger muscles. I suppose, when you are at that stage, you will look after your hands more careful than whats now. The idea to play the piano is when your hands are foowerd recoverd form previous training just like anysports. Muscle loading - Muscle simulation- recovery-perfomance.

[ted]

I played very hard, competitive tennis for thirty years but it did not appear to interfere at all with my piano playing. I suppose there could have been a slight inflexibility of the right hand fingers through prolonged hard gripping, but no greater than that produced in anybody's dominant hand during everyday movements. I did once have a terrific fall on hardcourt, tearing  most of the ligaments in my left wrist, which injury, I suspect, has left a certain weakness there in later life. But that sort of thing could have happened in all sorts of other ways. In general, the benefits of sport and exercise far outweigh the risks.

[silverwoodpianos]

One thing I have noticed about instructing tennis; anyone who plays music has better timing for the ball than a student who does not play music. 
I experienced some inflexibility after long matches; made it difficult to hang onto the cold beer glass……….

[gvans]

One thing I have noticed...I experienced some inflexibility after long matches; made it difficult to hang onto the cold beer glass……….

Now that is a major problem. May I suggest drinking straight from the bottle? Always worked for me...

[theholygideons]

Make sure to lead with your hip and torso, followed by your shoulders, then your biceps and wrist when you hit a forehand for max power. Do some wrist curls with dumbbells if your wrists are weak. Your muscles should adapt after a while and they won't get injured if you warm up. I wonder what the tennis matches between george gershwin and arnold schoenberg would have looked like...

[j_menz]

I wonder what the tennis matches between george gershwin and arnold schoenberg would have looked like...

Gershwin and Arnold Schoenberg seem an unlikely pair, but the tennis court at the former's Beverly Hills home was the scene of a fiercely-fought weekly tennis match between the two composers. According to one observer, Gershwin was ‘nonchalant’ and ‘chivalrous’,  always ‘playing to an audience’; Schoenberg, on the other hand, was ‘overly eager’ and ‘choppy’ and had ‘learned to shut his mind against public opinion’. We're talking strictly about tennis, of course.

Schoenberg also came up with a notation system for tennis.

As an accomplished tennis player, Schoenberg wanted to be able to record the moves of his tennis games so, in between rounds of four-sided chess, another of his inventions, he devised his own tennis shorthand, capable of recording everything  from 'player rushes to the net' to 'foot fault'.