wrist problems please help :(

[silliconcrayon]

Hey guys , I'm new at this , please read it's very important for me , I'll try to keep it short ,
I'm a self taught pianist (beginner) first piece that I learned was Beethoven's fur Elsie <3 after that I jumped to ballade 1 (that's silly I know) .. actually one day I heard sir Horowitz playing ballade 1 (Chopin <3) and I can't tell you how much I'm touched and deeply moved emotionally , I wanted to cry , anyways so I decided to prepare for it even thought i knew my skills won't allow me but I challenged myself and I finished half of the music but I don't know after quite a practice I've a problem in my wrist it's constantly paining not much but i can feel it all the time , I decided to take few days off to heal but it won't , I don't have stand (I use digital piano can't afford the acoustic ) so I use my blanket and bed to position it correctly , I take posture very seriously , but I'm not sure weather it's correct or not
please advice me some tips to prepare the piece without damaging my wrist permanently  and also can you guys help me up with the technique and give me some tips how to prepare this incredibly tough piece (especially for me  , I literally don't know anything much about piano but I've this strongest feeling in the world that I've to prepare this piece no matter what and I JUST LOVE PLAYING PIANO ..something I can't describe even greater than falling in love you know  )
many many thanks in advance

PS: if you want I can upload a video of me playing ...

[dima_76557]

@ silliconcrayon

I have bad news for you: before becoming a Schumacher, you should first learn how to drive properly. Find yourself a teacher for guidance. We cannot give that kind of instructions here in your situation.

[awesom_o]

Upload a video. To go from Fur Elise straight to Ballade in G minor is quite a big jump. One that your wrists certainly won't thank you for....

[silliconcrayon]

thank you guys , well I'll upload a video very soon , by the way , in my city there is no professional piano teacher ..infact I'm pretty sure there is no pro teacher in whole state .. I'll be uploading the video by the evening thanks for you replies

[4greatkeyboards]

I am glad you are trying to learn and so moved by Chopin Ballad 1, but sorry have pain in your wrists. I play Ballad 1 and 4.

You may find more help in the Students Corner forum but I will offer some. First, is how to make quick progress in your studies. The following method works for me:

https://kantsmusictuition.blogspot.com/2007/09/secret-on-how-to-practice.html

Second, learn the 'weight technique' which all modern pianists use. This is for your wrists.  Here is the essence: don't press the keys down with your hands. Instead, use the weight of your body, the upper body controlled by your spine which starts above your pelvis and goes all the way up.

Here is an experiment for you, to show this technique. Sit at your keyboard and press a note, one note, down all the way. Now, use your single finger to support the entire weight of your body this way:
 lean forward towards the keyboard. Let your single finger be the only support that keeps your upper body from falling onto your face. See? This is how we apply force to the keys.

As you are playing the keyboard you control the volume by muscles in your back on your spine. You use the weight of your body that way to control your volume. This takes a lot of practice. The payoff is that you can achieve finely graded volume, from pp to f, I think. (Beyond that range is another story, later.)

This will not damage your wrists. It is a time honored technique. As I understand, it was first described by Beethoven.

[awesom_o]

I was not aware that there are any muscles in the back of the spine.

This sounds revolutionary. 4greatkeyboards, maybe you could post a recording in the audition room? I'd love to hear finely graded volume controlled by muscles in the back of the spine. That sounds amazing.

[passioatephotographer7]

I am glad you are trying to learn and so moved by Chopin Ballad 1, but sorry have pain in your wrists. I play Ballad 1 and 4.

You may find more help in the Students Corner forum but I will offer some. First, is how to make quick progress in your studies. The following method works for me:

https://kantsmusictuition.blogspot.com/2007/09/secret-on-how-to-practice.html

Second, learn the 'weight technique' which all modern pianists use. This is for your wrists.  Here is the essence: don't press the keys down with your hands. Instead, use the weight of your body, the upper body controlled by your spine which starts above your pelvis and goes all the way up.

Here is an experiment for you, to show this technique. Sit at your keyboard and press a note, one note, down all the way. Now, use your single finger to support the entire weight of your body this way:
 lean forward towards the keyboard. Let your single finger be the only support that keeps your upper body from falling onto your face. See? This is how we apply force to the keys.

As you are playing the keyboard you control the volume by muscles in your back on your spine. You use the weight of your body that way to control your volume. This takes a lot of practice. The payoff is that you can achieve finely graded volume, from pp to f, I think. (Beyond that range is another story, later.)

This will not damage your wrists. It is a time honored technique. As I understand, it was first described by Beethoven.

first of all, ballade no 1 is a beautiful piece. So moving. secondly, get yourself a professional teacher. thirdly, (because I like lists) 4greatkeyboards- very valid technique. My teacher once used this for me when I first started with her. I sat at the bench incorrectly and was not able to use my weight to control the sounds. Position is foremost in professional playing!

[j_menz]

Here is an experiment for you, to show this technique. Sit at your keyboard and press a note, one note, down all the way. Now, use your single finger to support the entire weight of your body this way:
 lean forward towards the keyboard. Let your single finger be the only support that keeps your upper body from falling onto your face. See? This is how we apply force to the keys.

Missed this earlier. What on earth is the point of applying force to a key after you have pressed it all the way down?

I've never played on a piano that that would have any affect on (other than an odd dodgy one where complete collapse might have been a risk).

[thesixthsensemusic]

You need to take things easy and move to the next level of pieces only if you're ready. Wrist pain is caused by unergonomic movement and unergonomic movement is a sign of either aiming for too difficult works, having developed some bad habits, or any combination of both.

On a scale from 1 to 10, sorted by difficulty, the 1st Ballade is an 8 or possibly 9, and Für Elise a 3. There's much in between, how about you try some of the Mazurkas or one of the less-demanding ones of the Nocturnes first? And then move on to the polonaises, some of them are intermediate level (5-6)?

You'd be better off to take at least a few lessons and have a good teacher take a look at your playing, he or she will be able to spot any bad habits and help you get rid of them. As you're still a relative beginner, it will be significantly easier to finish off with bad habits than in let's say 3 or 4 years when you might have mastered much more skills, but also imprinted any errors deeper and deeper in your general posture and technique at the keyboard. Believe me, although not impossible, you do NOT want to get rid of them only after that point (and unfortunately I speak out of my own experience).

I wish you the best of luck