Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Avoiding Wrist Tension When Playing Piano Arpeggios #1: Your Teacher’s Face Turns Blue
“How do I avoid tension in my wrists when playing piano arpeggios?” Piano teachers can yell “Relax!” until they turn blue in the face, and it won’t do any good. Tension leads to sore muscles, fatigue, and possibly even injury. So, how do you reduce the tension in your wrists? There’s an easy trick that’ll help you learn how to relax on your own. Read more to find out how it works.
This post uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
Avoiding Wrist Tension When Playing Piano Arpeggios #2: The Tension Scale
How do you avoid tension in your wrists when practicing or playing piano arpeggios? You need to use your awareness skills to pay attention to your body.
For instance, The Inner Game of Music suggests that you rate the tension in your wrists on a scale of one to ten:
- First, practice a piece of music that has a series of broken chords.
- After you’ve played it, ask yourself where the tension was on your personal mental scale.
- If you rate the tension at, say, a seven, see if you can then play it again at a five.
- Next, see how low you can get the tension while still being able to play.
- In other words, a “one” will be so relaxed you’re not moving.
However, rating the tension while practicing arpeggios is only one way you can use your awareness skills. For more great tips read:
Avoiding Wrist Tension When Playing Piano Arpeggios #3: Not Limited to Arpeggios
So, that’s how you avoid tension in your wrists when playing piano arpeggios.
- Using this simple tip makes it easy to rate the tension in your wrists.
- Once you’ve quantified the tension, reducing it becomes doable.
- Moreover, this technique isn’t limited to arpeggios. Anytime you feel like you’re playing with too much tension, you can use the Tension Scale to help you relax while playing or practicing.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- Can I Learn to Play Piano with a Mini Key Keyboard?
- How Long Do You Take to Memorize a Piece of Piano Music?
- Tips for Playing a Different Dynamic in Each Hand on Piano
- Help Me! How Do I Improve My Touch on Piano? Part 4
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Back to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category blogs page
Glossary
Brainstorming Your Song Titles
Are you stuck in a rut like the guy in the picture above? Do you want to know how to come up with vivid and memorable titles? Most of the songwriting experts agree that you should first write your hook, which often ends up being paired with your title. This means you need your title at the beginning of the songwriting process. Read more to learn how to go about brainstorming your song titles. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
A Note Contains Many Pitches: Singing in Tune
Want to sing in tune? Knowledge is power. The following post talks about how singers group pitches as they perform. Read more to find out how the fact that a note contains many pitches can impact singing in tune. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
Read More
How to Learn Music Theory with a Learning Disability
Are you frustrated because music theory seems to be filled with arcane and unreachable knowledge? While learning music theory can present challenges for musicians with learning disabilities, it is possible to dispel the mystery surrounding how music works. Keep reading “How to Learn Music Theory with a Learning Disability” for study tips and music theory resources. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
Singing Shape Notes Solfege Ionian Melodies
Want to be able to sing modes? I can help. You’ll see the Ionian mode more often than any other type of mode. It’s used extensively in pop, jazz, classical, and even folk music. In “Singing Shape Notes Solfege Ionian Melodies,” you’ll be singing the last mode we’ll look at in the modes series. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More