Piano and the Risk of Tendonitis


Piano and the Risk of Tendonitis

Piano and the Risk of Tendonitis
By Paul Tobey

As someone who has lived through 3 incredibly painful bouts of tendinitis, both in my left arm and right arm, I thought it important to pass on some information that has helped me deal with this in the past.

It is important to understand that playing the piano can cause serious injuries such as tendinitis and carpel tunnel syndrome. Both these ailments are known as repetitive strain injuries. The constant up and down, side to side movement of the arms and fingers when playing piano for long periods of time is what causes these injuries.

This is common among piano players. In fact, it is so common that there is a special clinic in Hamilton, Ontario called the Musician’s Clinics of Canada that deals with the prevention and rehabilitation of musician injuries. Naturally their patients include other instrumentalists like violin and guitar but, pianist injuries are certainly among the most common.

What can be done when a pianist gets tendinitis or carpel tunnel syndrome? Well, certainly there are conventional methods of dealing with the inflammation and pain. Unfortunately these types of treatments such as; anti-inflammatory, pain medications and physio therapy are designed to treat the symptoms. Therefore, once the pianist goes back to playing the piano without being completely healed the injuries can re-occur and in the end be quite difficult to get rid of.

It is not uncommon for tendinitis to stick around for very long periods of time. In my case, I once had a problem with my right arm that took almost 3 years to get better. The problem is of course that, as a professional I can’t possibly just stop playing the piano. I can take breaks in between concerts but usually I can only take up to a month’s rest at a time.

So, how can these injuries be cured while still continuing to play? It’s important to understand that not every case is the same but, for me, I actually had to re-learn how to play the piano the correct way. I realized, after visiting the musician’s clinic, that I had the completely wrong approach to playing piano. Specifically, I was too close to the keyboard, I had the wrong wrist position, the wrong finger position and I didn’t understand the concept of leverage.

Leverage means to use the entire body to create volume on the piano. I was trying to create volume by forcing the keys down with forearm strength instead of using the entire body. Therefore, my arm muscles and joints suffered from the strain of trying to play too loud. What I eventually realized, with the help of the musician’s clinic doctor was that, I needed to create velocity as opposed to force. Once the key reached the bottom of its natural movement it can go no further. Yet, I was trying to force the note passed its end without even realizing it.

The correct way is to drive the note down with extra velocity using the back, shoulders, biceps, arms, wrists and fingers and then release at the exact moment the key reaches its lowest point. Therefore, it’s the velocity of the hammer hitting the string that creates volume. Knowing when to let up is very important in the fight to prevent injury.

In terms of moving the piano bench back, I had to learn also to sit with better upright posture and to generate leverage using my entire body. It’s easier to do this with the right foot (pedal foot) forward and the left foot back under the bench. Then as you pivot forward and backward on the bench you have more balance and leverage.

Once last point I should mention; exercise is very important. I started weight training several years ago because, I find that the extra muscle helps a great deal in preventing injury. Be careful however, to consult a professional when starting weight training. You must do it the correct way in order for it to be beneficial.

Piano lessons are becoming more popular on the internet every day. Paul Tobey gives online piano lessons that not only focus on making better music but on the business end of the music business to help aspiring artists succeed. Take a free piano lesson today.

Article Source: //EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Tobey

//EzineArticles.com/?Piano-and-the-Risk-of-Tendonitis&id=507160


Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Helps

Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Help

by: Yoke Wong

The piano is an interesting instrument to learn. With commitment and dedication, it is hopeful to master the art of playing on a piano. Pianists use different piano techniques, to play piano. A person, interested in learning piano can choose a technique that he/she is comfortable, from an array of piano techniques.

Broken chord
Broken chord piano technique is a technique that can be learned with ease. In this technique, a chord is broken up into notes. All the tones, involved are heard in the same instant. This is called solid chord. If a pianist is using his/her finger and playing a C major triad, then he/she can break it up into three notes and can playing them one after the other, this is called broken chord. Broken chord technique is used commonly, in the New age piano music. It is enthralling to listen to the music, when a piano player plays the notes of a particular chord, in the broken style. The sound of the piano is fuller and the music sounds wonderful.

Ostinato
This technique allows a pianist to generate music that is fuller. The specialty of the technique is that there is repeating pattern, which is present, frequently in every kind of music. The repeating pattern is called ‘ostinato’. Ostinato gives this technique its charm and depth. The Ostinatos can be utilized, in the creation of staccato sound. Two chords are used to produce harmonic background.

These two chords are created by the left hand and the right hand invents melody. Even a repeating bass note can be used to create the ‘ostinato’ pattern. This technique also stresses on melody, which makes the music created through the application of this technique, alluring! The Ostinatos, quickly provide you the complete background and keeps the mood of the piece, intact. Then the melody can be introduced into this background to create beautiful music!

Open position chord
The open position chord technique is a technique that covers the two octaves of a keyboard and a person has to make use of both the hands, while playing. The open position chord is not an easy technique to master. Once a person familiarizes himself/herself with the chord structure, then it is easy to apply this technique. This technique allows one to create better sounds that the closed position chords.

Crossover
The crossover technique is used in the New age pianos and it spans one octave or more. The pianist, while applying this technique on the piano uses the left hand and produces a cascading pattern of notes. These notes ascend and descend, according to the way it is played. In some musical compositions, which can be played using this technique, a few chords are broken up into arpeggios. This generates a beautiful harmony loop. The chords are broken up with the left hand and the right hand polishes the melody, in the composition. While learning this technique, one has to master the left-hand crossover and then one has to learn to add melody, with the right hand.

All kinds of piano styles have their own share of techniques and risks. A particular technique suits a specific style. Some techniques prove to be very useful than other techniques. While playing on a piano, a pianist has to adopt a particular technique that suits the style of the music and the pianist himself. Learning new techniques makes a person play on a piano efficiently and create music that mesmerizes the listeners!

Tags: piano lessons, piano tips, learn piano, music teacher, learn free piano

 

About The Author

This article is written by Yoke Wong . She has published a series of piano courses , free piano lessons, piano sheet music , and many piano playing articles.

Article Source: Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Helps

How Can I Pin Point My Success, Rather Than Just Accidentally Arrive?

 

As far as I am concerned, very few people who reach great heights in life, in terms of career success, love, business, wealth building, and almost anything else you can think of, arrive by accident. I know that some people fall in love with the idea that they will go where fate leads them, but to me, that is a cop out. In fact, forgive my bluntness, it's just ridiculous. Certainly, the piano is no different, and you are well aware that much effort is required to reach the level of success and professionalism you desire.

I know I am occasionally very direct, but let me tell you, if there is anything that I can convey to you, it's this: Anything worth having is worth working for. I am including the entire gamut of forms of effort to reach your real goals here. I am talking about

  • Aiming high, as you have a greater chance to get there if you're aiming for it
  • Being clear in your desired result
  • Being prepared to persevere, even when you have failed before
  • Persisting, even when everyone else says you can't do that because of…
  • Constantly going over the above list, and being so determined, you continue to persevere.

 

I know that it is very easy to generalise about these things, but in all truth, no matter who you are, where you come from, I have found that these points apply to any serious and long term success. I know you might tell me that if wealth is your dream, you could get there by winning the lottery. Now, as it turns out, the chances of that are somewhat limited. You also have a greater possibility of becoming successful on your own merit, and on top of that, you will be more likely to hold on to your wealth, as your mind will be developed, or trained for success. I have read of many people who have not understood or known how to handle money, and lost it all, and more, after a big lottery win. My point here is to do all you can to develop your mind.

I know that people can have lucky streaks, and so on, and certainly, I advocate working smarter, rather than just harder, but over all, it is still about having steeled determination, and grit to get through all the failures and rejection. To give you another example, I use article marketing for many of my various websites, as this has proven to work for me. However, I can also tell you that I did not get the hang of it on my first attempt. On a number of occasions, I had difficulty coming up with titles that worked, or even, developing my writing style. That took time, with trial and error. If I allowed the first rejection to get me down, I may have given up, and not seem the results I now have. Hence, this is another example. Be determined and treat each failure as a step to something bigger. When I was looking for work, I also went through countless numbers of rejections. However, I knew it was just preparation for a better, and more rewarding and meaningful position elsewhere.

I know that most of us want the results of our efforts today, if not even the results without the effort. However, there are a few proven strategies, that do take time, that will however, help you reach your desired destinations more quickly, and surely.

There are methods of thinking to substantially help you focus, and reach the life success, you would like to see. It is about the way that you think, and train your mind to solve problems, and face challenges.

Piano Basics- Scales and Arpeggios

I am well aware that for many people, the idea of playing scales, and other warm up exercises is about as exciting as watching paint dry. However, there can be no substitute for technique and good playing basics, like ensuring that scales and arpeggios are played correctly, and in a suitable manner as to ensure correct warm up of the hands, fingers, and joints. Many pianists have come to grief, by simply sitting down at the piano, and getting straight into a full routine to play a complex work, without the former warm ups suggested.


Now, the pianist may well get away with this for quite some time, even possibly years. although more likely than not, they will experience quite debilitating injuries in due course.


The tendons of the hands are placed under considerable strain when complex works are played, and the problem is exacerbated by people with small hand spans, as they need to stretch more to play the more complex works.

Particularly with beginners, by laying a solid foundation, and understanding the scale and note patterns, the student will be able to appreciate the more complex playing techniques in later years, and tackle them with greater ease as well.  Many great piano teachers have spoken about the piano being about simplicity, in that even complex processes are made up of simple steps, often joined together by rapid playing. Whilst this is simple in its own right, it will become even simpler when attempted and done after a suitable warm up, every time.

 

Scales and Arpeggios are also mentioned in Wallace Tate's Magic Touch Piano Manual, describing the Bowman Method.


Tendonitis and Piano Playing – How Can Tendonitis For Pianists Be Resolved or Dealt With Appropriately?

 

It is no secret to just about any long term pianist that occasional pain and muscular discomfort may occur from time to time, during their playing careers. Effectively, this is the result of repetitive strain injury. Many serious or professional pianists will typically practice for around seven hours a day, and over a period of a number of years, will add up to a long term pressure on the joints and muscles of the arm, hand and wrist.

 

 

As with any sporting activity, it is encouraged to ensure that a thorough warm up session be undertaken first, and then too, a cool down session, to slowly relax the body prior to the cessation of exercise. The same can be applied for pianists, as this will contribute to less chance of injury. Now, I am not going to suggest that playing scales and arpeggios before you launch into the Beethoven Pathétique Sonata is going to cover you against all and sundry injuries. However, it certainly is an important part of your playing regimen.

However, let's consider the actual forces and strain that are going on with the arm, and hands, let alone the wrist and fingers. As far as the arm is concerned, many pianists extend the arm in such a way as to apply considerable force to the wrists ad tendons, as they play, and this can certainly be sustained for a period of time,. However, given the nature of the work in question, some pianists will start to notice pain if they are stretching their fingers considerably (when the hands are small, and the notes spread widely over the keyboard). The preceding example is by no means the only possible scenario, but certainly a common one, amongst others.

There are a number of possibilities to undertake to resolve the problem, and for some, that includes attending physiotherapy clinics. They certainly have their place, and some are undoubtedly very good. In fact, some have an excellent reputation. A question that I would ask however, is to perhaps see if we can find a way to eliminate the problem form developing in the first place. Is such an option available to pianists? The short answer is yes, although it is dependent on the teacher, and student adopting a different method of playing, which like any new endeavour, will take time to master, but ultimately, bring forth greater rewards to the pianist, as well as the pleasure of an improved sound. You might well ask, "How can dealing with tendonitis improve the sound?"

The sound itself, is the result of the quality of the playing. When a pianist is able to play with less fear due to a greater relaxation at the keyboard, and a technique that allows a greater freedom of movement in the hand and fingers, as well as positioning relative to the keyboard, the strain can be greatly minimised on the tendons. Whilst some people may try to convince you that you can cure the problem in a few days, I personally believe that to be irresponsible, and dangerous. If you play on through a damaged tendon, you will likely do more damage. You are better off resting the injury till it heals, and then applying a technique that has been proven, like the Bowman method.

Next, are you experiencing or dealing with overcoming piano injury, for the long term?

You will also gain an enhanced comfort and improvement in your playing, with less stress and injury. To learn more, see the therapeutic techniques that are possible for classical pianists.