pianists - a question

[russycarps]

so I've been playing the piano for a little over a month now, and it's mostly going swimmingly BUT my teacher says my wrists are always too tense. She says it's very common for beginners.

Do any of you have any tips on how to overcome this?? I have googled and seen a few bits and bobs but none of it really resonates with me. I also read somewhere it can take up to 2 years playing to get over it!

I'm not a particularly nervous person and feel relaxed around my teacher and enjoy the lessons a lot, so I'm hoping this is something I can overcome pretty quickly...

thanks for any replies!

[The Nal]

Stop masterbating so much.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

so I've been playing the piano for a little over a month now, and it's mostly going swimmingly BUT my teacher says my wrists are always too tense. She says it's very common for beginners.

Do any of you have any tips on how to overcome this?? I have googled and seen a few bits and bobs but none of it really resonates with me. I also read somewhere it can take up to 2 years playing to get over it!

I'm not a particularly nervous person and feel relaxed around my teacher and enjoy the lessons a lot, so I'm hoping this is something I can overcome pretty quickly...

thanks for any replies!

[russycarps]

you pair of rotten bastards!

[Guest]

Stop masterbating so much.

[russycarps]

I wondered (of course!) about that. Maybe you're not doing it enough...

Trying to relax can be very hard. Some mental exercises, or a form of yoga type exercises might help. I'd imagine focusing on your wrists could simply exacerbate the problem..

Just googled it, and it seems to be a common problem (as your teacher says)

http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/8046/how-to-relax-my-wrists

that's just one

I still have a similar problem playing the guitar after over 40 years. Practising seems to be the best help for me. Play a piece so much that I don't have to think about it any more, until I'm confident with it.

[kaosmark2]

I know they're dull, but practising scales is really good for training your hand to relax and flex in the right ways.

[russycarps]

I know they're dull, but practising scales is really good for training your hand to relax and flex in the right ways.

[kaosmark2]

They get boring fairly quickly, but if just in every practise session you spend 5 minutes warming up with scales it makes a big difference.

[Guest]

aye cheers for that link, some good tips on it.

Seems it's worse in adult-beginners as we get more frustrated at not being able to do stuff. You're right though, in trying to force yourself to relax, you tense up more.

You need to use the weight of your arms to press the keys via your finger tips, rather than pressing them with your fingers. Very much easier said than done! Being an office monkey at a keyboard all day doesnt help

sigh, my life on mars dream is just as far away as it's ever been

Edited September 4, 2013 by tonyblair

[russycarps]

Have you had a go with that youtube clip I posted? Honestly, start with the first chord.. just that chord. Play it, remember it. Then go for the second chord, on it's own. then play the first chord followed by the second. Do that until it gets comfortable. It doesn't matter if takes a week, 2 weeks, a month even, just on 2 chords, at least you're going in the right direction. Then you've started, go for the next one, etc etc. It might sound patronisingly obvious, but I think a lot of people give up because they can't separate the bits, and it's all a little overwhelming..

one step at a time

[Guest]

yeh I did look at that. I dunno though, it sort of feels like cheating to me. I want to learn all the theory and stuff too.

It would be weird if I could play one song perfectly but literally nothing else!