Pain in Arm while playing Grand Valse Brillante Op 18

[pascalxus]

So, i've started practicing Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante op 18 about 35 days ago, on average practicing pretty intensively on it for 60 minutes per day on average.  I've increased the tempo i can now practice to 100 bpm to 160 bpm and vary between those tempi, practicing mostly the difficult sections over and over and over. 

about 2 weeks ago, i started to get pain in my left arm while playing the piece: in my outer left forearm and my upper left tricep.  it only happens when i play this piece intensively. 

in this piece the left hand comes up into the middle of keyboard quite a bit and then bounces back down into the base.

anyone know how to stop the pain?

[lelle]

First of all: Stop playing this for now. Do not continue playing through pain. That's how you get really nasty injuries that can take a LONG time to heal. Take a break until you are pain free and don't continue playing stuff that causes pain. Trust me, it's not worth it to keep pushing when there is an issue like this.

The good news:
- It's perfectly possible to play everything in the standard repertoire without any pain.
- Pain from playing is a sign that you are doing something wrong technique wise. That means it can be fixed.

The bad news:
- It might take some time to fix because you need to rework the technical habits which are causing the unnecessary strain which is causing the pain.
- There is no quick fix that someone can type on a forum for you to read and go "aha I'll just do that instead" and you'll be fine. It's hard to explain technique in writing and it's very easy to misunderstand as a reader.

I'd really recommend finding a teacher who can work with you in person to diagnose what's problematic in your technique and help you change it.

[geopianoincanada]

I started to get what might be considered "Tennis elbow" after practicing Bach's prelude in Cmaj. BWV846. The rotation in the right arm was not making my arthritic right elbow happy at all.

So I stopped practicing that altogether, I kept Voltaren on my elbow and then heating pad then cold for a number of days. I can now play piano again but I'm not going to risk injury.

Perhaps there needs to be a physical fitness warning that some pieces require a certain athletic skill.

[ego0720]

…Perhaps there needs to be a physical fitness warning that some pieces require a certain athletic skill.

You know, I have joked why they don’t have a black box warning for this. We don’t think of injuries on piano but they are real.  How many ppl have just thought “I’ll work through this”.  It’s a common psychology. It’s rooted in expensive lessons, saving money, and making light of the consequences.  Many result in tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and arthritis. One can even weaken the individual joints or digits in the arms, hands, and fingers if unoptimized.