Forearm Tension in Schumann Carnaval Reconnaissance

[jouhz726]

Any tips on how to mitigate forearm tension from the fast repeated notes on the thumb in Reconnaissance? I don't think the tension is avoidable, though there surely are ways to help it, which I can't see to find.

[roboute guilliman cfa]

My approach has been to seek out other similar passages in other pieces, and use them for more material to learn. The second page of Liszt Don Juan (Moriz Rosenthal edition on imslp) has a similar demand on the right thumb to play a fast quiet accompaniment submelody, that might help.

[essence]

What age is the OP? Sometimes you simply have to wait for the body to mature. If you push too hard, too fast, it won't work.

[jonathannyc]

Repeated configurations are always an invitation to repetitive stress injury for all of us.

When I encounter extended repetitions, I build myself up over time, playing lightly and under tempo, with the point being to train my hand-wrist mechanism to not over-exert with unnecessary force or tension. It takes time to train those reflexes.

For example, Horowitz was asked how he achieved the brilliant, prestissimo octaves in his performance of the Liszt Rhapsody No. 6.  He countered that he did not just jump into it; he built up his reflexes with preparatory exercises of repeated octaves for a full three months before he engaged the Liszt Rhapsodie again. He knew the dangers of taking on too much too soon.

I don't know if that is encouraging or discouraging, but your challenges are shared by the best pianists around. 

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[thalbergmad]

I dont play the piano much nowadays but i am a competitive arm wrestler, so i experience share similar forearm problems.
Tension should not exist in piano playing and the great Arrau likened the human playing mechanism to an electric circuit board. If there is any resistance, the natural flow disappears.
As well as the very helpful last post, i would encourage that you should always be properly hydrated and seek a professional for regular hand and forearm massage.
High repetition work with a low force grip ring can help lessen forearm tension over time as it encourages blood flow.
Please never use those awful rubber finer strengtheners. It was something similar that destroyed the performing career of Schumann himself if i recall correctly.
Thal

[suterd7]

Ouch, yeah this is a very hard piece for the thumb. One thing that helped me is to think more about the long notes - half or whole notes, as well as focus on the melodic line; not enough to completely solve it but this helped me

[dareill]

Keep the thumb movement as small as possible, let the forearm rotate slightly instead of forcing the thumb alone, and practice in short, relaxed bursts. Tension should never keep building.
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