Releasing Tension Options

[Cadence]

What can you all tell me about tension in the back? I often get tense at the top of my back near my shoulder blades and across my shoulders after practising for a while, but i've found that I only get this tension when I use our piano at home (which I obviously use the most, which is annoying), but not on my piano teacher's piano. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Jacob. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Preliminary things to check for:

- is the stool at a different height or less comfortable?
- does one have a 'lighter' or 'heavier' action than the other?
- are there any extra pressures or worries on your mind when you are playing at home or do you have to concentrate harder (background noise perhaps)?

[piano*cello*sax*boy]

Cadence, what do you mean by a 'release point'? I understood the rest of your very detailed answer but this has baffled me.

[Cadence]

Cadence, what do you mean by a 'release point'? I understood the rest of your very detailed answer but this has baffled me.

Well in music we talk about tension and resolution - is it easier to think of in that way?

I didn't think that "resolution" really worked as a description when I was talking about physical tension.

What I meant by 'release point' was simply the point/moment that you release, or begin to release, the tension that you have just briefly made.

[jacobpianofluteorgan]

What can you all tell me about tension in the back? I often get tense at the top of my back near my shoulder blades and across my shoulders after practising for a while, but i've found that I only get this tension when I use our piano at home (which I obviously use the most, which is annoying), but not on my piano teacher's piano. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Jacob. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Preliminary things to check for:

- is the stool at a different height or less comfortable?
- does one have a 'lighter' or 'heavier' action than the other?
- are there any extra pressures or worries on your mind when you are playing at home or do you have to concentrate harder (background noise perhaps)?

- is the stool at a different height or less comfortable?
The piano stool we have at home isn't adjustable, which is rather annoying, where as my piano teacher has a very nice adjustable one. Thinking about it now, our piano stool at home is quite high. I like to play with the stool fairly high, and will always make it a little taller when I go to my piano teachers house (and I'm over a foot taller than her), but I'm never uncomfortable at her house.

- does one have a 'lighter' or 'heavier' action than the other?
My piano teacher has a Steinway Concert Grand that seems to have exactly the touch I want, it's not too heavy, nor too light (it's a bit of a Goldilocks and the three bears piano!).
At home, we have an electric Roland which I hate, but the action isn't too bad, it's pretty good as electrics go, but i've never noticed it as a huge problem for strain, it only frustrates me because It doesn't do what it's told like the Steinway usually does!

- are there any extra pressures or worries on your mind when you are playing at home or do you have to concentrate harder (background noise perhaps)?
I wont play certain things if certain people are in the house. My mum is a piano teacher, so she knows what i'm supposed to play, but I don't see this as a problem as such, it just annoys me when she nags!
I think i'm a little tense if my dad is around, because as far as he's aware, i'm a concert pianist (which i'm far from!), so thats a little stressful.
I also have to compete with drums at certain times!

Jacob. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[piano*cello*sax*boy]

Right thanks. I've got that but am still a little unsure about how to actually go about releasing it, or is it different for everyone, I am probably being a little slow here.

[maggiemay]

Thanks to Mad Tom and Cadence for their detailed replies.

Yes, indeed.

I'm sure tension in varying ways and degrees is much more of a problem than is often thought.

I remember a young concert pianist demonstrating the difference between tense/relaxed arm and shoulder in playing a fast fluid run of notes - and the difference in tone was enormous - the tense state seemed to block the sound, whereas the relaxed arm allowed resonance.

I take great care with sitting and posture of pupils, and often do a few minutes of relaxation at the start of a lesson - especially with adults who seem to harbour tension more than children do. However there are things Cadence's list I have not generally tried - so thank you for a more comprehensive list and some other ideas.

[undertoad]

What can you all tell me about tension in the back? I often get tense at the top of my back near my shoulder blades and across my shoulders after practising for a while, but i've found that I only get this tension when I use our piano at home (which I obviously use the most, which is annoying), but not on my piano teacher's piano. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Jacob. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think I recognise that!

In my case it's because of my bad eyesight. It's really not that bad (and I wear glasses when reading music), but being tense, or tired, or unconfident about the notes I'm reading makes it worse. The sum effect is one of leaning into the music on the stand. It's not just eyesight, it's a feeling of "I need to really examine this music closely otherwise I'll get it wrong". Hence it can happen to anyone in certain moods, even if they have perfect eyesight.

Try this as an exercise:

a) Sit at the piano with your back absolutely straight. You want to feel that your head, neck and back are sitting comfortably right on top of the bones you sit on, and your back curves inwards from your waist to a point halfway up your back. Pull the stool forward or backwards so that your hands are able to reach and play the keys. Put your hands reasonably far apart on the keyboard - maybe as far apart as the they are when you let them hang by your side - and leave your elbows relaxed. Ignore any music on the stand.

b) In contrast. Lean forward from the position in (a). Put your hands closer together. Your elbows fly outwards and upwards. Drop your head forward and downwards - as if you were unable to read the music on the stand and had to get closer to it. Notice how your back collapses backwards so it's no longer curved. Your shoulders rise and your shoulder-blades may move inwards towards your spine.

Then move back to (a) again.

(b), of course, is the wrong position - a deliberately exaggerated wrong position! I don't recommend holding this position - doing it is just to make you conscious of what it feels like. What may well be happening is that you're doing (b) - to a much smaller extent of course - but enough to tense up your shoulders and back.

A mirror can really help, or having someone (your teacher?) watch you as you sit and play. There may be something about your home piano that encourages you to do this:

a) Bad light, so the music's hard to read?
b) Stool can't be adjusted upwards/downwards or forwards/backwards to give you the best position?
c) Different height of keyboard, or pedals harder to reach?
d) Not having a teacher watching you and correcting your posture? (I get this effect when I'm practising!)

It's really easy to sort out, it just takes noticing what's happening and gently changing it (my account of what causes this for me may not be entirely correct for you). Hopefully your teacher can help with this.

Good luck!