Hi, I just started learning. How would I know if my forearms are relaxed or not. As a beginner I am really scared that I might injure myself. I have been doing the exercise you mentioned for last 3 days but I still don't know If I am playing properly. Is there any way to know that? Thanks.
The best way to learn is to find a good piano teacher. If you are feeling tired or strained, make sure to take a break and stop playing. Another good practice to avoid injury is to start slowly, do not rush for speed.
Never drop your arms like dead weight, always control it. The key is to take advantage of weight, instead of only relying on finger strength. It's all about control.
Thank you for responding to me. I didn't think the drop was dead weight but some other people on RU-vid show students in videos dropping their arms and hands on the fall board and the keys from a good height and the students are being told to let their arms drop on the fall board or keys in a totally relaxed state. In those videos the drop technique sure looks to me like it's dead weight dropping. I feel sorry for those students. So far, you are the only person I've encountered who stipulates that the drop should never be like dead weight. I wish more teachers on RU-vid would be that explicit when talking about arm weight technique.@@PianoTeachingPros
Great tutorials! 🥰 I'm just starting my adventure with playing the piano, having experience with other instruments, I know the consequences of the lack of appropriate technique. Is the reference book under the video "What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body" worth reading for a complete beginner?
@@PianoTeachingProsThank you for the answer 😊 I am very grateful for the lessons. They helped me understand a lot of things that you can't get from books. Great job, we need more! If anyone is considering buying this book, I highly recommend it. Currently, I am in the middle and it has completely changed my idea of how the pianist's body works and should work, these tips can be also translated with success into other areas or everyday life.
I noticed that when you drop your arm/hand/fingers onto the keyboard that your wrist appears to dip down slightly upon impact. I'm guessing it has to do that to absorb the shock of the impact. Is that the point where you actually relax. I ask this becasue you say to relax when you are lifting your hands off the keyboard with your arms elevated and your hands hanging down. I'm not sure at exactly what point the relaxation is supposed to be initiated. I'm guessing that the arms can relax only when they are positioned at the lowest point in the process and not when they are being elevated after falling onto the keys.
Why on earth don't you demonstrate the arm weight technique on the REAL piano sitting beside your digital one? We need to feel the interaction between arm weight technique and the way how we bounce from the keybed. Such interaction requires a real piano action in motion. Of course, the tonal quality of a real piano has nothing to do with a digital one.
