my piano got ruined

[cadenceiiv7i]

Hello everyone,
Recently, my piano got voiced. It is supposed to be good for your piano and my tuner said that I should get my piano voiced 1-2 times every year. All I noticed is that my piano sounds like it is muted. It sounds like I'm pressing down the left pedal the whole time, maybe worse. When I actually DO press down the left pedal, well...I didn't know pianos could sound like that. Anyway, I practice quite a lot and some of my repertoire requires a lot of fast fingerwork, or pages of loud chords. (I'm playing Rachmaninoff's second concerto). I suppose I automatically used more strength in an attempt to create the sound my ears wanted to hear. In other words, my fingers adjusted to the piano and I had to work a lot harder because I couldn't get used to the tone of my piano after it got voiced. I thought it was a good opportunity to increase my power, so I didn't really change the amount of time I practised. Yesterday, I had a recital and I noticed that I played a lot faster and louder than usual and my tone was very harsh. I also felt like I was out of control; even the slightest touch created a sound in the mezzoforte-forte range. Another thing is,recently, I get some weird pains in my arms and wrist when I practice some passages. What should I do? If I keep practising on this piano, will my performances get worse and worse? Could I end up injuring myself? Is that even possible by practising piano?
Thanks a bunch!!

[chopin2015]

it is very beneficial to switch pianos when you practice. go play on different pianos as much as possible. See what throws you off, and how your sound changes. Avoid using pedal.

Start with a slow piece, because you like slow and pretty. Then, GET FREAKING PISSED!!!! and play something that you like to play when you are REALLY REALLY REALLY UPSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I was told that do not practice that which you do not feel like practicing. To have a good, productive practice, you have to feel the mood which the piece requires. You have to need the piece and what it represents. You have to want to play it. Basically, live it!)

make sure you practice a lot of range between the two extremes. In practice, a lot of people avoid working on their touch, because technique already takes up so much energy and discipline. I feel like touch is a refinement in playing technically...it is the application of technique. Touch takes a lot of connection to your emotion and state of mind, and the feel for music which you develop in practice....

 

[theholygideons]

you should have made it more clear to the piano regulator that you wanted to voice your piano more bright, instead of making everything sound mellow and muted. Aren't you there when he's voicing so you can test it out before he leaves??? get your piano voiced again if you're concerned that it's causing you to overwork your muscles.

[indianajo]

Don't use too much strength hitting the notes.  fff is a relative term, appropriate to your piano, not an absolute volume. If your tuner made your piano softer, and pain in your muscles and tendons is your reaction, you should adjust your expectation of the piano at the same time. Some players, particularly women, never play anything above a forte, but ff is part of the standard repretoire of the piano, and your teacher shouldn't let you get by without using that sound when appropriate.
I have never had a piano voiced.  Once a year is stupid, unless it is a piano used 16 hours a day in a school practice room or something.  IMHO, unless there is a serious mismatch between the frequently used middle hammers, and the seldom used outside hammers, there is no reason to voice a piano.  At least one that was not sold to you in a defective state.  Inspecting the hammers that they are not scooped out in the middle is part of my standard drill of buying a used piano.  If your piano is badly worn, your tuner may be right, but with great 1950's consoles going for $200 here, I would think about buying a different piano if it is that worn out.