Have you noticed how Vladimir Horowitz performed? You probably noticed he was playing with completely straight fingers. Why is that our teacher emphasized on curved fingers, and famous pianists don't seems to follow the rule?
Glenn Gould sat very low and almost seemed to play from under the keyboard. What did they do that?
These professionals managed to be at the piano in a position where their muscles and ligaments were working for and not against them. It is possible to play for long periods of time without experiencing any tiredness or pain. In order to achieve this goal, our body must be as in tune as the piano.
There are some physical exercises that you can do to achieve this goal.
Relaxation is very important. Below is an article written by Shmuel Tatz (phd) with Sheild Weinstein enlisted some techniques to tune the body:
a. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold your torso erect, arms loose at your sides. Shake your wrist, raising them higher with each shake. As you continue to shake your wrists, bring them back down to the starting position. Repeat this a few times until you feel the relaxation effect.
b. Stand with your legs slightly bent, torso relaxed, arms hanging at your sides. keeping both feet on the floor, turn to one side, then to the other, in a scythe-like motion. Your arms should swing fleely.
c. Stand with your legs slighly bent. Move your shoulder blades toward each other. Lift your shoulders up, and then pitch them forward, as if throwing the shoulders out of joint. Repeat several times if this is comfortable, and then do the exercise in reverse. Lift your shoulders up and move them forward, then downwards and back towards your shoulder blades. Stay relaxed.
Below is a streching video that I find helpful:
Glenn Gould sat very low and almost seemed to play from under the keyboard. What did they do that?
These professionals managed to be at the piano in a position where their muscles and ligaments were working for and not against them. It is possible to play for long periods of time without experiencing any tiredness or pain. In order to achieve this goal, our body must be as in tune as the piano.
There are some physical exercises that you can do to achieve this goal.
Relaxation is very important. Below is an article written by Shmuel Tatz (phd) with Sheild Weinstein enlisted some techniques to tune the body:
a. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold your torso erect, arms loose at your sides. Shake your wrist, raising them higher with each shake. As you continue to shake your wrists, bring them back down to the starting position. Repeat this a few times until you feel the relaxation effect.
b. Stand with your legs slightly bent, torso relaxed, arms hanging at your sides. keeping both feet on the floor, turn to one side, then to the other, in a scythe-like motion. Your arms should swing fleely.
c. Stand with your legs slighly bent. Move your shoulder blades toward each other. Lift your shoulders up, and then pitch them forward, as if throwing the shoulders out of joint. Repeat several times if this is comfortable, and then do the exercise in reverse. Lift your shoulders up and move them forward, then downwards and back towards your shoulder blades. Stay relaxed.
Below is a streching video that I find helpful:
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