Upright With a Mute Pedal

[mhhudson15]

Hi all,

I had received a real piano for Christmas just last December, a nice black and gold upright. (And a lovely step up from my 76-key Yamaha keyboard I had before then.) It sounds great, but there's only one problem- my parents insist that "for your hearing and for ours, keep the mute pedal on!" Well, as you probably already know, it greatly increases the need for almost forceful pressure to play, and the longer you play this way, the worse it feels. They said to just not press as hard, but the keys won't hit... My fingers are shot by now. Such as sometimes if I do a trill or octaves, or anything close to fast, they'll literally lock up and shake, and my wrists will burn, and I can't play anything else for the rest of the day. What should I do? Any and all replies are much welcome.

[outin]

What should I do? Any and all replies are much welcome.

Get rid of such silly parents?

or

If you have a teacher, ask him/her to talk to them.
If you don't have a teacher, get one now.

[mhhudson15]

hahaha well, that's not going to happen 

[mhhudson15]

I've talked to my teacher, who talked to my parents, who went off on the teacher, who then told me " I really don't know what to tell you, they just don't understand." Which is very true. She said to just do the best I can 'till I go off to college. The only problem I have with that is I won't be able to get very much better in a year if I won't be able to have quality standard practice for a year...

[mhhudson15]

If you have a teacher, ask him/her to talk to them.
If you don't have a teacher, get one now.

...and I swear that part was not there before! So i'm sorry if my first post seemed out-of-the-blue if this part of your reply was there; I was merely saying this pertaining to the "get rid of silly parents."

[quantum]

You could ask your parents whenever they talk: for your hearing and for ours, keep the their mouth taped shut.  It is a fair deal, you keep your piano muted and they have to self-gag themselves.  

You could propose to take up percussion as your primary instrument.  Try it out for a week, work on your crash cymbal technique.  

You could sit your parents down and have a discussion around scheduling practice time for you, and silent time for them.  

[quantum]

I've talked to my teacher, who talked to my parents, who went off on the teacher, who then told me " I really don't know what to tell you, they just don't understand." Which is very true. She said to just do the best I can 'till I go off to college. The only problem I have with that is I won't be able to get very much better in a year if I won't be able to have quality standard practice for a year...

Can you find something like a nearby church to practice?  You can do a trade and play for services in return for practice time.  Plus it gives you playing experience and credit.

[liszt1022]

"We bought you a nice piano. You can do anything you want with it besides play it."

[awesom_o]

The only problem I have with that is I won't be able to get very much better in a year if I won't be able to have quality standard practice for a year...

There is no reason you can't get better by practising with the mute pedal on all of the time!

Learn all major and minor scales in contrary and similar motion, with the hands separated by an octave, a third, and finally a sixth.

Read through every composition of J. S. Bach that you can find!

Study all Etudes by Chopin.... and learn to improvise!

All of these things can be accomplished with the mute pedal!   

[mhhudson15]

There is no reason you can't get better by practising with the mute pedal on all of the time!

Learn all major and minor scales in contrary and similar motion, with the hands separated by an octave, a third, and finally a sixth.

Read through every composition of J. S. Bach that you can find!

Study all Etudes by Chopin.... and learn to improvise!

All of these things can be accomplished with the mute pedal!  

Very True!
I just meant technically though, and learning tougher pieces. I'm doing Chopin's Minute Waltz for fun, and I'll probably have a go at another Mozart Sonata, possibly in B-flat K 333. I want one that's not so overplayed this time, like the K 545 I learned last time. It's in the faster pieces that my fingers hurt and my wrists burn. I'm definitely not ready to get into the Chopin Etudes yet. But yes, scales and arpeggios all day long!

[awesom_o]

It's in the faster pieces that my fingers hurt and my wrists burn.

Without seeing and hearing you play, it is difficult for me to say for sure what your problem is.
You are probably trying to play things a bit too fast, a bit too early, instead of really working in a detailed way to develop your control at slower speeds!

[mhhudson15]

With all due regards, I don't have problems on my piano, or any others, without using the mute pedal. That's why I think it's more the piano than it is me, even though I admit I can be stubborn/ very ambitious at times to play a tough piece. But I don't think they are out of my reach. They're just not exactly bread and butter either.

[awesom_o]

Even if it is the piano, it seems like you cannot change the situation regarding the mute pedal being on all of the time.

So it's probably best to come to terms with the situation!

Don't 'perform' like you would on a regular piano when you are practising at home! Use the instrument to study with all of the diligence that you can muster!

If you don't mind my asking, how far have you advanced in the study of music theory?

How is your sight-reading?

[mhhudson15]

I don't mind at all, I welcome it.
I'm still working on my music theory and sight reading, since I dropped very far behind when I was "teaching myself." I hate it and it's embarrassing, but it's getting better since I do now have a teacher.

[awesom_o]

Well, if I were you, I would focus on building the foundational skills to a high level before attempting to play the virtuoso works of the great virtuoso composers (such as Mozart).

Once you are a brilliant sight reader, you'll be able to learn all of the repertoire you want very quickly!

I know what it feels like to be in your shoes. I was once an ambitious teenager, behind on theory, and poor at reading, yet with a burning desire to play the virtuoso repertoire!

Have you mastered the ABC exercises yet?

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=54246.0

[mhhudson15]

These are excellent exercises! I've looked at them before and mastered the first one, but for some reason, I didn't go on to the B and C's. Will do! Thank you

[awesom_o]

Also.... how is your juggling? If there is one thing about my past that I could go back in time to change, I would have started studying juggling seriously at a younger age.   

[mhhudson15]

Juggling? As in throw/catch two or more balls in a circle? I've tried once and I didn't do very well. I have never heard of practicing juggling seriously as part of piano practice though

[awesom_o]

Juggling? As in throw/catch two or more balls in a circle? I've tried once and I didn't do very well. I have never heard of practicing juggling seriously as part of piano practice though

A circular pattern is called a shower, and is quite different from the basic juggling pattern, which is called a cascade. A cascade is actually a sideways figure-of-eight.

Imagine if somebody tried playing piano once.... they probably wouldn't do very well!
It takes regular practice! And just like piano, you really have to UNDERSTAND what you are practising. Practising mistakes just makes you better at making mistakes!

Juggling is all about improving your brain. Music is all about improving your brain.
Believe when I say they are best friends! I take music very seriously indeed, and I would never lie!

 

[mhhudson15]

Alright, I shall see about this juggling. Exactly how do you do it?

[awesom_o]

Good luck!

[outin]

...and I swear that part was not there before! So i'm sorry if my first post seemed out-of-the-blue if this part of your reply was there; I was merely saying this pertaining to the "get rid of silly parents."

You're right, I  did edit it

[richard black]

If you need more effort to make the notes sound, it could be that your mute mechanism is not adjusted correctly. The felt sheet should only be a very few mm from the strings. If it's further away than that it will indeed interfere to an excessive extent with the hammers (it can't avoid interfering to some extent, but it shouldn't be much).

You could also use acoustic foam behind the piano, and some inside it, to reduce loudness without using the mute.

[mhhudson15]

Good luck!

Very interesting! I'll be practicing.

If you need more effort to make the notes sound, it could be that your mute mechanism is not adjusted correctly. The felt sheet should only be a very few mm from the strings. If it's further away than that it will indeed interfere to an excessive extent with the hammers (it can't avoid interfering to some extent, but it shouldn't be much).

You could also use acoustic foam behind the piano, and some inside it, to reduce loudness without using the mute.

Thank you so much! I'll definitely look into it-- it sounds like a great solution

[rachmaninoff_forever]

sh*t like that pisses me off. 

I'll talk to your parents.

[flashyfingers]

Hi, I have had my wonderful yamaha with a practice mute, for over a year now. I ONLY practice with a practice mute.

This is what my advice is:
Replace the mute felt (the stuff that hangs between the strings and hammers when you activate the mute) with thinner felt!

I practiced my said yamaha for a long time, hours and hours, and felt so much more stress in my forearms, yes. BUT I have also noticed great things over time.
Take lots of ibuprofen, don't quit practicing on the mute.

What you are feeling is resistance. If you feel it in your wrist, then you are playing wrong.
You can burn through the resistance as you get stronger. In fact, I have a very old Chickering baby grand, and the action is extra heavy. It feels like nothing now, and I am able to play evenly and very forte, no problem. I don't even have to use much pedal. I just play legato with a ton of strength. IF ANYONE WANTS TO FLAME ME DOWN FOR PLAYING WITH STRENGTH VS ARM WEIGHT, YOU CAN EAT IT!!  >:u)

Also, how is the bench? I recommend an upgrade to an artist chair, make sure you sit high enough. There is nothing worse than sitting too low and too close.

Get used to the resistance. Work your way up to it, starting with very short, incremental practice. Multiply the sessions, then do a few shorter, longer sessions. Then try one longer session. Then Try two longer sessions. Then try one long session. ETC.

Also, work out.
Do an upper body work-out, multiple times a week.