This tutorial has proper English SUBTITLES (written by me, not UA-cam)! Just click the CC button to turn them on :). Also, here is the video breakdown (with clickable time stamps for each main idea): 00:02. Introduction. 00:46. Correct piano playing does not cause pain and injuries! The 4 Mega-Causes of Piano Injuries: 01:37. Cause No. 1: Bad posture and incorrect arm alignment. 02:36. How to avoid injury. 03:38. A good piano posture is a fluid process, not a static 'hold'! 04:24. Cause No. 2: Incorrect technique. 05:11. A. Finger-only playing (and what to do instead to avoid injury). 09:09. B. 5-finger Legato playing during the early beginner stage (and the healthy ergonomic alternative). 11:29. C. Tension, stiffness and static playing (and how to relax your muscles without falling off the bench). 14:28. D. Exaggerated finger stretching (and how to connect wide intervals without overstretching your hand). 16:10. E. Keybedding (and learning when to let go). 17:27. Is a bit of fatigue normal when we practice? 18:34. Cause No. 3: Incorrect practice. 19:03. Where to find the rest of this tutorial...
@@slzeman6079 Hi! At 12:38 I play the very beginning of a beautiful intermediate piece entitled 'Dreamy' op. 23, written by Henryk Pachulski (1859-1921). A full step-by-step tutorial is available on PianoCareerAcademy.com 😉.
Bought my first digital piano 2 weeks ago (FP30) and I've been practicing it daily. I teach myself by watching youtube videos and tutorials. I have practiced daily the 5 finger legato drills for beginners that you've mentioned and now I feel a slight strain on my right wrist :( Guess I was pressing the keys using my fingers and not using arm weight. I'm so thankful I found this video before I injure myself further! Please continue sharing your knowledge ❤ you have a gift for teaching piano and I only wish you could be my teacher!
Hi! Thank you! :) I'm happy that you found this video in time, before you did more damage to your wrist. Assigning 5-finger exercises to beginners should be illegal by now - I get so sad when I see that they are still being recommended :(. By the way, you CAN study with me, by joining my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com. As a member of PCA you will learn how to play correctly by following my Video Course for Beginners. This Course will help you to develop ALL your piano skills (healthy technique, expression, hearing, reading, theory & analysis, pedaling etc.) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school. You can learn more by reading my answer to question No. 17 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Good luck! ;)
Some people might not have the circumstance to pay for pianos lessons because life is different for some but I really do enjoy that you are giving them small but important lessons for free on UA-cam this really shows that you really care about us and you respect us and we do respect you hello from Armenia.
THIS IS SO USEFUL. Clear explanations with great use of rhetorical reasoning. I’ve been playing wrong for years and definitely feel the pain and tension in my wrists and hands now.
These videos are the absolute best I have found on youtube. I've watched hundreds of hours of piano tutorials to try to figure out how to play properly after a long break from piano and being 100% self taught. The Russian method seems to make the most sense to me and these videos explain things so thoroughly that I think I'm going to get a membership on the website. Thank you so much for putting the work into making these tutorials. I almost feel relieved that I can start focusing on this Russian method and stop being confused by many of the other channels on youtube which give conflicting information. Its hard to know what is correct when you're self taught...
Oh my gosh! I’m coming from viola and have been getting left hand tension pain after just a few minutes. Your explanation of not just using the fingers alone is something I never thought of. I don’t have the problem with my right hand, but that’s my bow hand which is used to using the whole arm.
I'm happy this video was helpful! Regarding the 'finger myth', which is sadly still so common nowadays, you could also watch episode No. 2 from my new Myth series - where I talk about this topic in lots of detail. The first episode is available here on UA-cam [ ua-cam.com/video/2vCiYULr2K4/v-deo.html ]. Episodes No. 2-7 are free as well, but only available to our email newsletter subscribers.
I am studying this video religiously and taking notes! This is going to save my playing! Thank you so, so much. I truly appreciate the advice in this video.
Hi! That statement ("never tolerate pain") should not be understood out of context. I was talking about piano-related pain - not medical conditions. Piano-related pain is a symptom of incorrect technique and/or practice habits, and should never be tolerated. Sadly, too many people these days (who are perfectly healthy otherwise) struggle with chronic hand/wrist/forearm pain because of their poor technique. In time, this pain degenerates into injuries that are very hard to heal. Most of our members at PCA come to us as a last resort, after trying all those 'become a virtuoso in 30 days' shallow courses that pay no attention to ergonomics or proper sound production. 99% of them experience a huge relief after following my tutorials and re-building their technique - and forget about pain completely. Obviously, medical conditions such as arthritis are a completely different category - and I try not to discuss them in my videos (since I am not a doctor). I am aware that in some cases, people suffering from arthritis ALSO play the piano and experience pain (I'm really sorry about this!). In such situations a correct piano technique will obviously not cure arthritis - but it can still make your playing experience more comfortable, free and enjoyable. And, of course, bad technique could aggravate arthritis - which is another reason to play ergonomically 😊.
I am a beginner and I have watched many piano lessons online but you are by far the best piano teacher I have come across. You teach the piano technique in a very logical and professional sense which makes me believe what you are saying is right. I am slowly trying to learn the correct way to press the piano keys so that the sound is more melodious. Thank you for offering your expertise I appreciate it very much ma'am. :)
Your videos are absolutely wonderful, especially for serious students. Very high quality. When I browse piano tutorial videos on UA-cam and read some of the comments-----"I don't want to bother learning to read music"---"I don't want to learn music theory, it's too complicated"---I just cringe. I, too, would love to learn to play like Valentina Lisitsa or Yuja Wang in 2 months. But, obviously that's absurd. Your videos are the best on UA-cam for someone who is serious about learning to play the piano and accepts that it is a very long road. Your videos are great for helping serious students progress as rapidly as is humanly possible and, at the same time, not develop really bad habits because they have a "not especially knowledgeable" teacher. Thank you for your very high quality instruction.
Thank you! Yes, I think that ‘poetic’ is a good way to describe my teaching style. It’s not just about my English, it’s a deliberate (and very effective) professional teaching strategy :).
So glad I have found you! I am a beginner adult student who felt into the trap that I could learn to play songs in a short few lessons. I do play songs, but I have terrible posture and there is no musicality. I look forward to learning full arm weight technique.
Thank you, Iris! Indeed, this is the No. 1 trap that beginners fall into these days. I will actually publish a UA-cam video on this topic very soon! :)
It's important to note that if students keep their hands and fingers totally rigid, they end up using only their arms or wrists to depress the keys like a giant lever. The result typically is a lack of motor skills at the finger tips for independent control. It's important to remain in contact with the keyboard and to depress the keys using the weight of the key, instead of lifting fingers up to then press back down. First instincts are almost always to press the keys like an elevator button lol. I think that the Russian technique rubbed off onto me when I was studying, since my best teacher was indeed a Russian concert pianist and although he was super disciplined, he was always emphasising so many of the things you mentioned here. Excellent video! Thank you so much!
Thank you for your appreciation, Eph-Jay! ;) Yes, piano playing is a fluid process - so any rigidity leads to technical and expressive limitations (not to mention the physical discomfort). Remaining in contact with the keys is useful in some cases - but it cannot be automatically applied to all types of layouts (or articulation effects) :).
Beautifully explained. I normally play wind instruments and only started to pick up the piano recently. I instinctively did exactly what you mentioned. The moment I felt stiff in my arms and wrists I stopped playing and started researching. There is so much to learn from your holistic full body approach that can in fact be transferred to other instruments and styles. Especially flute players struggle a lot with RSI. What a good reminder that ( physical ) tension makes no sense at all when playing an instrument. Thank you !
all these bad habits are good habits for a guitarist. now it all makes sense! ive been treating the piano like an electric guitar. time to unlearn some bad habits. i suppose i shouldnt write for 4-6 hours at a time anymore youre guidance is very much appreciated! very concise and clear. thank you
This video is extremely helpful for my understanding the big picture of how I began to develop bad habits in my piano learning journey which started 4 years ago. Now, I am unsure how to begin correcting my entrenched problems of finger-based playing, stiff hands and wrists, total lack of whole-arm playing and lack of hand-weight playing. These problems have not caused me injury yet (I'm playing only at the grade 4 level in the Royal Conservatory), but to use this instructor's words, they are "sabotaging" my playing for sure. So I will peruse the academy site and seriously consider subscribing. In the meantime I'm so grateful for the large number of helpful, clear, videos you have provided to all, including this one. Thank you!
You are very welcome, Lisa! :) Our Courses at PianoCareerAcademy.com have been specifically designed to help our members re-train their entire skillset, and get rid of bad habits such as the ones you described. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our community! ;)
I am just discovering this channel now. I absolutely love it. This is a great video. An in-depth look at an important subject that isn't talked about enough. This is something I've been struggling with on and off for a while - piano, drums, guitar, bass all adding up. I've been scouring the internet looking for something just like this, and I have finally found this. You are the Holy Grail of teachers. I will certainly be sharing this with other! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
This is the either the fourth or fifth video tutorial of yours, I've watched today. Although I took piano lessons at age 10 for a short time, over the years I didn't keep up with training or practicing except for occasionally. Recently, I purchased a better keyboard than the one I had been using since 2012 and later may get a piano. For now though, I'd just like to improve my musical theory knowledge and playing techniques and believe your online piano academy will help achieve this. Ilinca, I really like your tutorial videos because of the way that you fully explain each topic and how it relates to getting the most satisfaction out of playing without causing physical neck, shoulder, arm, wrist or finger muscle injuries. I am signing up to your piano academy today because from what I've seen in the 4 or 5 videos I've watched earlier today there is too much to gain and virtually nothing to loose. Thanks for sharing these introductory tutorial videos.
I love it. "It's a movie not a picture". Great analogy to describe proper posture. Thank you as always for sharing your skills and knowledge. Been watching some of your older videos from 2013 and noticed how beautiful you still are. In fact you're like wine. The older you get the better you are. Have a lovely day my beautiful Russian pianist. I feel like I need to be bringing you an apple for being an awesome teacher. (and pretty too) PS. I just went to the piano and was thinking more relaxing as I was playing and my playing was smoother. Yee haw.. That was awesome...
Thank you, Jesse! I'm happy this video was useful! By the way, personal comments are not appropriate on this channel. Thank you for your understanding.
I am just starting to learn how to play and I just want to say thank you! I am software engineering so my hands are important to me. You are brilliant and I will continue watching your videos. If only I can find a local teacher that teaches your style.
I'm really happy to hear that my videos are helpful! :) By the way, if you don't find a local Russian-trained teacher, you can always join PianoCareerAcademy - where you get unlimited access to an enormous library of tutorials and step-by-step courses (plus feedback to your playing).
Thanks for the help, I think I might take a break, every time I play the piano my left arm hurts and feels so stiff. I will try to follow your advice, thanks again!
You are very welcome! Yes, taking a break is the first step in recovering from an injury. When you feel better, you need to slowly and safely re-assess and rebuild your technique and practice habits :).
You are probably one of the best teacher on this internet. I learned more in one video clip than all my previous years. Thank you so much for sharing the Russian Piano School concepts, they are priceless. I will consider in a near future studying with you (even if piano is not my main instrument) Blessings to you!
I'm currently learning Rach's Etude Tableau Op. 39 No. 6. My fingers were on band-aids because of how difficult it is for 3 days, and how profound of a technique you'd need for the A section of the piece. After watching this, I quickly saw that I was so unnatural in my play, my posture wasn't there and my hands were a little below the keys. I've now done proper posture, and learned to be fluid in executing technique, and I can say I improved in just 15 minutes after watching the whole video. I'm now happily over the A section and now moving on to the menacing chords. Thanks alot!
You're very welcome! I'm so happy to hear that this video was helpful! :) Little tip: besides practicing this Etude, don't forget that re-training your technique (and learning whole-arm action) is much more efficient when we work on easier repertoire. If the foundation is solid, we can build anything on top of it. I have detailed tutorials on this topic in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy :).
Now I understand why some pianists play with those accentuated hand movements. Tbf I thought it was mostly an affectation to show how “serious” they were about their playing but I’ll cut them some slack. Good pointers - thanks for the video!
Thank you for this video. I started learning piano last week (self-taught for now due to COVID) and had to stop due to hand and wrist pains after practicing scales. I will incorporate these tips once the pain is gone so that I can continue learning to play for a long time :)
Hi Christine! Practicing scales after only one week of playing the piano is a very, very bad idea! :( No wonder you experience pain! In the Russian system, in the first week of practice our beginners only learn the fundamentals of whole-arm action - by playing one note at a time, with the entire relaxed arm and flexible wrist, non-legato (so without connecting the notes). They also learn the basics of correct posture and sound production. My Course for Beginners (which is available on PianoCareerAcademy) is based on this professional approach. In my program, scales & arpeggios are only introduced after completing Lesson No. 48 for Beginners - when our members can already play legato safely, with a healthy and relaxed whole-arm technique (and a beautiful sound). Lesson No. 1 from my Beginner Course is available for free (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/), along with a couple of other sample Lessons - and you can also learn more about this Course by reading my answer to question No. 17 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Good luck! ;)
Thank you so much, Phil! I hope your injury is not severe! The good news is that most injuries heal in time - and then it's never to late to learn how to play with a healthy technique. Good luck! ;)
@@philbarone4603 I'm really sorry to hear that! :( To answer your question - I dedicate my entire time to PianoCareerAcademy.com, which is an online Piano Coaching Program (therefore we are located on the internet). You can learn more about PCA and its functionality by taking a look at our FAQ page (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
wow "its a movie not a picture"! Thank you so much i saw your video played back by 15% and i can see how straight your wrist elbows and shoulders are. I was looking into this cause i have a pain on my inside elbow (im a self taught player [Bach, Yurima] that likes structure) but not sure now after watching your video if its because of me playing the piano or guitar.
I found this to be quite useful. I am a beginner with no teacher yet and my posture was horrible and was causing some pain in my right forearm. This should help!!
Hi Markos! Being self-taught is indeed difficult - especially when you don't have access to high-quality learning resources. The things I mention in this video are a good place to start - but one tutorial will not instantly fix your posture and technique. You can learn more by watching some of my other free videos :).
Your technique is beautiful in how you move your arms like wing on the piano. I’m 16 and just starting but I think I’m gonna sign up for your academy so I can play like you✊🏽
I really struggle with carpal tunnel when practicing fast pieces like fantasie impromptu for example and I realised my posture was the problem so this is very helpful thank you 🙂
You are very welcome, John! When it comes to pain triggered by speed, it's usually a combination of incorrect posture, technique and practice habits :).
As a 50 year old beginner, the only things that hurts when I play are my ears from my lousy piano playing. 🙃 Thank you so much for your video, you are a wonderful Teacher and pianist.
@@pianocareer Thank you for seeing the humor in my post. :) Thank you again for your wonderful video as I do find myself sitting w poor posture often which always leads to pain throughout my body. As a very old beginner, I sincerely appreciate your video and I will focus more on overall posture as you describe so well. I’ve saved your video so I can refer to it often for proper posture. You are a wonderful Teacher and such an accomplished pianist. Please continue helping others and making a positive impact in our world as you do. :)
Thank you so much! I love love love every one of your videos. So well explained, answered a lot of my questions. My daughter is 9 years old, learning piano with a Russian teacher. Tone quality is one of the top priorities. Could you please give her some suggestion on how to play a piece with graceful fluid style and great tone quality? It is so difficult for her to do the both at the same time. We will keep watching your videos. thank you again.
Thank you! I'm happy to hear that your daughter is studying with a good Russian teacher! Great tone quality and fluid style are achieved through a lot of correct practice, combined with very good ear control. Coordinating both tasks is easier if the pieces are not too difficult, and every little motif is broken down into 'conquerable' chunks (hands separately first, non-legato). I call this practice method 'the magnifying glass', and I describe it in a lot of detail on PianoCareerAcademy.com :).
On a video on the hanon exercises, someone mentioned stopping at the first sign of pain. Someone else had to ask why... I had ri explain that pain is a sign of injury. Hanon, especially if using the five finger technique exactly as prescribed in the book (and by the pianist in that video) can be carpal tunnel in a book. I still use the exercises in my personal practice, but adapt the technique.
"Carpal tunnel in a book" - that's a great way of putting it! Yes, Hanon CAN be useful and safe - but only if practiced by using whole-arm action. Anything can be useful if practiced correctly, in fact 😊. Thank you for sharing!
@@pianocareer When I first learned it, I used the finger only action. The first hint that something was wrong was numbness in my wrists. Learning whole-arm was a game changer.
How can you adapt the technique ? I’m practicing Hanon exercise 1 and I feel pain in my left hand I have tried something different each time of practice but now I have pain in my left side: shoulder, back, arm and hand :(
@@v.elizabethrojas1169 Incorporate wrist movement and whole hand technique to reduce the finger movements. I'm primarily an organist more than a pianist. Some organs have key actions far heavier than pianos. The pieces that cemented the need to adapt were the Toccata finales from the Widor 5th Symphony and Boellman's Suite Gothique.
@@v.elizabethrojas1169 I will add that the best idea is to stop playing Hanon altogether, and learn whole-arm action and weighted playing from scratch, non-legato first. Then, once the new technique is well assimilated, you can apply it to anything you want (including Hanon). However, I have a strong feeling that once you discover a better way to practice (and more efficient scales and Studies), you will never go back to Hanon 😇.
Wow. I wondering for years and why my right hand wrist would tense up after a couple of pieces, and you’ve shown me exactly why. For so long, I believed that the right way to play, especially if you are playing very fast, is to use only your fingers, and keep your wrist basically static. I attribute my technical ignorance to being entirely self-taught, however, you have shown me the truth in just one video. I’m extremely thankful, and I feel blessed that I stumbled upon this video. Thank you so much!
I have injury due to repetition of finger exercise, perhaps using finger only method. I have watched your video long ago but forgot and did intense repeated exercise suddenly. This video is great. I will try to use the proper wrist movement. You should make more videos like this, or include the 7 ways of incorrect practice. God bless u. Repetition should not be used in practice, this is why so many people say that Hanon exercises produces injury.
Hi! I'm really sorry to hear about your injury - and I hope you feel better after applying the recommendations I share in the video above. Please don't forget that a healthy technique is not just about proper wrist movement. Our entire body participates in piano playing - especially our back and the bigger muscles of the shoulders and upper arms. If whole-arm action and weighted playing are internalized correctly, the wrist/hand/fingers are much easier to control. I have detailed tutorials on these topics on PianoCareerAcademy.com - including step-by-step Courses. By the way, repetition itself is not the problem - INCORRECT repetition is ☺️. Even Hanon can be useful if practiced correctly - but, of course, I do not recommend these outdated exercises (as I explain in my detailed article on this topic - which you can find in our FAQs, answer No. F6 [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ].
This video was the best sales tool I've ever seen. I have only begun to learn and I made every single mistake on here and you make it so easy to grasp why I should correct it. Thank you.
Thank you, Roland! :) This video synthesizes my experience on this topic acquired during more than 10 years of working with Western students (as part of PianoCareerAcademy). So of course, it highlights the most frequent mistakes :).
Hi Ilinca, Henry T here (one of your PCA Students)! Funny story, today 15 Feb 2020 I was at my local music store here in Colorado Springs, Colorado [U.S.] and I was discussing with the Owner how I think I've found a local Instructor to teach me how to deal with stage-fright when playing the piano. I was trying to explain how happy I was with PCA and I was trying to determine the best way to broach the subject with my new Instructor because I didn't want to seem/be dismissive about being taught how to play from them because the Russian method has proven itself to me to be the absolute best approach to learning properly. The funny thing was, I was there to buy piano books and when doing so I pull up the books songs on UA-cam and help determine if it's something I want to add to my library. Anyway, I'm chatting away with UA-cam in one of my ears and I begin to hear what sounds like YOU talking. I keep chatting and such and begin to leave when I look at my phone and BAM!!! It is you with a brand new pist for the day. I was so ecstatic I had to go back and show the Owner part of the video. Now how timely was that. Gotta love PCA!😉
Hi Henry - thank you for dropping by here on UA-cam! :) What a coincidence! :))) By the way, don't forget that you can watch the full video in the Members Area of PCA.
I will join your online course once I get my new piano 🎹 . I feel like I can learn with you ! I like your way of approach to teaching the piano and mental preparation for the long term:)
I unfortunately have a broken knuckle from a childhood injury so my right ring finger is lower than my others. In short it’s hard for me to play an Am chord on the piano without putting my hand into an awkward and slightly painful position. My right pinky basically has no independence and can’t bend much without my ring finger following. I never really noticed before since I only played guitar and ukulele using my left hand, but when I decided to pick up piano too that’s when I saw my greatest weakness. It hasn’t discouraged me from learning but it has slowed down my progression some what. Anyways this video helps as I was doing the very first thing wrong and just slouched as I played. Mostly cause I was using my phone to read tabs and it’s so small that I couldn’t see without putting my face closer 😂, so I got myself a cheap tablet just so I wouldn’t have to be so close.
I seem to have developed lump on top of my right hand wrist after a couple of weeks practicing Lacrimosa... From what I read it is called "ganglion cyst". It's causing me slight pain... Could this be related to practicing a hard piece like Lacrimosa? I have been playing piano for a few months... Would you suggest leaving this piece untill my hand is more trained?
@@siamaksamavat1851 Wrist cysts CAN appear as a result of trauma (such as the tension and pain associated with incorrect technique and practice). However, since I am not a doctor, I don't know if there are other possible causes (so my opinion cannot be considered medical advice). As a pianist, what I CAN tell you with 100% accuracy, is that beginners should NOT practice advanced pieces! If you do so, you're simply asking for trouble (including injuries), and sabotaging your progress. You can learn why by watching this detailed free video: ua-cam.com/video/2vCiYULr2K4/v-deo.html . It is the first episode from my 'Piano Myths' series.
Thank you, Damaris! Wide chords can cause pain because of the stretch. On top of the foundational solutions I mention in this video, the 'breathing hands' technique (which I cover in many of my PCA tutorials) is also very useful for relieving stretch-related tension.
The way I was taught was in the "finger school" of playing. The smaller and more specific the muscle used, the more precise tone you can achieve. It's not so much "finger only", as it is "fingers grant the most specificity and character to any given note". The back, relative to the arm, relative to the fingers, are to pianists like different sizes of paint brushes are to painters. I have absolute faith in my teacher so I am not about to question that notion. That said, are there good ways to apply your advice to someone who is grounded in the finger school? I ask for the sake of my upper back and shoulders.
Hi Forg! I think that the concept of 'whole-arm' technique is quite misunderstood nowadays. I agree with your metaphor about brush sizes - it describes the essence of whole-arm action quite well. Using the whole body is the foundation, it's the 'default' position, it's where the energy comes from, it's the biggest 'brush' we use, it's effortless and energy-efficient. Once we know how to do that, once we learn how to channel weight, how to use gravity and leverage to our advantage (and not press the keys with inefficient separate finger movements), we CAN, and we DO use the arm, forearm, wrist, hand and fingers in different combinations, depending on our technical and expressive purposes. Sometimes we play a note by only moving the last finger phalange - while other times, the entire body weight participates. In the 'whole-arm' school, the secret is to keep the body and arm connection active even when using the fingertip - so that there are no blockages and tension in the wrist, elbow and shoulder. So the 'line of energy', the 'hose' always remains free and flowing (even when no weight is channeled). The main problem of the 'finger school' is stiffness and constriction in the joints (not just the fact that the upper body does not participate, or that the finger muscles are too weak for the heavy piano keys). Yes, some 'finger school' pianists intuitively keep the arms/wrists loose - and while their technique is different from the one I teach, they do not have injuries. However, because mainstream teachers do not pay enough attention to ergonomics (only focusing on what the fingers are doing), this older technique usually causes lots of damage. So if you feel pain or discomfort in your back and shoulders, it means that there is tension in your playing. The exact solution depends on your individual situation - and I will only share a couple of ideas to get you started: • keep the arms and wrists loose and flowing - one line of energy from back to fingertips; • straight back, shoulders down and relaxed; • correct posture and distance from the piano ( ua-cam.com/video/InqmH-o1cX0/v-deo.html ) - if you sit too low and/or too close, tension is inevitable; • healthy and consistent practice habits ( ua-cam.com/video/IPvBV6cpxQQ/v-deo.html ). I obviously have many other tips, but they are inseparable from whole-arm action :).
This video is what I need. I'm learning piano on my own.... Big thanks!! I hope you can make videos about piano techniques for handicapped amateurs like (I'm suffering from symbrodactyly). So far your short tutorials improved my scales and positioning on the piano.
Thank you, Jann! :) In all my videos (including the step-by-step courses and hundreds of stand-alone tutorials available on PianoCareerAcademy.com) I share the professional principles of the Russian piano school. This is a complex holistic system - and technique is only one of its 'pillars' (as I explain in this free video: ua-cam.com/video/s0fFVGzBFqc/v-deo.html ). While I am not a doctor (and therefore cannot speak about specific conditions or disabilities) - still, the ergonomic technical foundation that I teach makes use of universally-applicable principles such as relaxation, flexibility, freedom of motion, weight transfer and weight channeling - and also gravity and leverage. The purpose of these ergonomic principles is to avoid tension and injury - and also offer great expressive and technical power. Just like the laws of physics apply to all of us - similarly, a healthy technique can be successfully used by all players, but it is important to learn it in a step-by-step manner :).
Hi, this video is so informative and helps me to grasp the idea of how the natural movements should be. Thank you! I have a question though- although playing the piano using the arm weight without any tension is crucial, it’s difficult to do so when the joints and knuckles are not strong enough yet to support the arm weight/movement. If i try to play with the natural arm weight and avoid any tensions, my finger joints and knuckles tend to collapse (get flat). But if i try to have my fingers and knuckles strong to support the weight, i get tense up. So I always come to the conclusion that I might just have to train my fingers separately… Do you have any suggestions or exercises to resolve this?- to have the good supports in fingers and knuckle yet still avoid all the tensions in arms? Thank you!
Hi! Thank you for your appreciation! 😊 Whole-arm action is a complex technique, and there is a step-by-step process to learning it. This entire process is covered in my Video Course for Beginners (available on PianoCareerAcademy.com). We start with non-legato whole-arm movements, one finger (and one note) at a time. During this exercise we internalize several crucial elements: weighted playing, gradual deep key attack, joint flexibility, wrist relaxation and hand/finger strength (to support the weight). All of them are essential - and whole-arm action is in fact the best finger-strengthening exercise. When these fundamental elements are assimilated we move to easy pieces where we need to play several notes in a row (still non-legato) - and then eventually to legato. By the way, you can learn more about our Beginner Course by taking a look at my answer to question No. D2 from our FAQ page [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ]. I hope this helps! 😉
@@pianocareer Thank you very much for your amazing advice on this! I just checked your website and am impressed. It looks thorough and helpful. I’m considering to subscribe it! Hope your course will help me fix my issue and I can get a better technique. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for this video! Right now I have a wrist and thumb brace on my left hand caused by passing under and stretching in scales, Hannon, and pieces. I’ve reluctantly concluded that I need to stop playing with that hand for several days and concentrate on mastering the treble cleft in my pieces. Another contributing factor is that my joints are very flexible allowing them to move past the point that the muscles can safely move.
Hi Susanne! It sounds to me that your technique is not entirely ergonomic when you work on your scales (the terms 'passing under' and 'stretching' are relics from the past, and they are rarely used in healthy piano playing). Please pay special attention to the part of the video where I talk about technical mistakes - I hope it is helpful! ;)
Hi, first of all thank you very much for your work. In the past have you made more detailed videos on the 5 fingers exercises or on the weight transfer in practising scales? They would be very useful for me. Again thank you from Italy
Hi Paolo! I have an entire Scale & Arpeggio Course (consisting of many detailed progressive lessons). You can find it in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy.com. This Course covers the entire scale system used in the Russian piano school - including weight transfer, developing velocity, dexterity, coordination, power etc. - and MANY many other important things. You can learn more about this Course by reading my answer to question No. 19 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
Keeping my elbows tucked in was causing all sorts of tension in my wrist and forearm. It sucked. When I found out how to fix it by putting my elbows out a little, the pain immediately went away
Hi! Because of my overloaded schedule at PianoCareerAcademy I sadly cannot offer individual lessons - but you are always welcome to join our program! As a member of PCA you will have unlimited access to every single lesson I have ever created - almost 1000 tutorials for all levels (including step-by-step Courses) focused on a very wide range of pieces, topics and problems. Besides solving the technical issues you are currently struggling with, you will also develop all your other piano skills in a harmonious, well-rounded manner - taking your playing to a whole new level of mastery. More information at the end of the video above - and in the Description Box :).
I definitely need a teacher after I finish college lol I love to play and if only best to use proper technique but there’s no substitute for an experienced teacher. Learning Ballade 1 caused me a hand injury so i have to stop playing for a few weeks at least 😢
Yes, absolutely! Learning how to play piano without a teacher (especially if you are practicing black-belt pieces such as Chopin's 1st Ballade) is certainly not a good idea. I'm sorry hear about your hand injury, and I hope that the advice I share in the video above will be helpful! Most importantly, you need to re-train your technique, and go back to easier repertoire for a while. Good luck! ;)
Yes, a bit of leaning cannot hurt us if the overall technique is ergonomic :). The type of tensed leaning I mentioned in the video is very different from the natural leaning done by great pianists.
This tutorial is informative, pointing out the mistakes normally committed by a beginner like me. I request for some more exclusive readings, videos on the subject as Learning to play Piano should get a pleasure and not lead to fatigue , as I intend to learn scientifically, as you well explained and taught. Your more suggestions on the subject will help me a lot as I have recently realised that I often misunderstand piano as computer, resulting in practising time lesser than required.
Thank you, Naresh! To learn more, you can watch my free tutorials about correct posture and key attack - and also Lesson No. 1 from my Course for Beginners. Here they are: 1. www.pianocareer.com/piano-posture/correct-piano-posture/ 2. www.pianocareer.com/piano-sound/correct-piano-key-attack/ 3. www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/
I'm in this strange situation. I'm self taught, practicing chopin 25-12 ocean on a Roland FP-10 keyboard and my forearms get obliterated just 30-40% into the piece if I try to go anywhere near the suggested BPM. It feels like the velocity needed for each note is enough to require tons of effort. I have no clue how good my technique is, I was able to learn Fantaisie Impromptu a few years ago and have a lot of synthesizer experience but I admit stretching my skill level to learn more and more difficult things. And I worry this digital piano might have too heavy an action to play pieces like this...
Hi Yasha! This is not a strange situation :). It's perfectly normal to feel tension while playing such an incredibly difficult Etude if you are self-taught, and not familiar with the basics of whole-arm action, ergonomic technique and correct practice. Professional pianists need to study for at least 8-10 years in order to be able to approach this piece. During this time they build a serious technical foundation (scales & arpeggios, progressive studies, enormous and varied repertoire etc.), they learn how to practice correctly, how to build their endurance etc. You can learn more about the downsides (and dangers) of trying to learn advanced virtuosic pieces without a proper foundation by reading my answer to question No. F4 from our FAQ page (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs). The solution is, of course, to choose the progressive path ;).
Thank you so much for such an informative video. I have been getting quite a bit of pain in my arms and it is attributed to pretty much everything that you have mentioned. To be honest this was never covered by my piano teacher despite reaching grade 8 over 3 decades ago. I guess this also explains why I can not even get through 2 pages of Beethoven's Pathetique when my arms start ro give up. Time to really strip back before venturing anything advanced!
I'm happy this video was helpful - and I am so sorry to hear about your pain! 😥 The scenario you described is sadly very common. Many of our members at PianoCareerAcademy are intermediate or advanced players with bad habits and an unhealthy technique - and I have build an entire 're-training experience' for them in the Members Area. Absolutely - you need to correct your technique before trying to learn advanced works - otherwise the pain will keep coming back. Good luck, and I hope you heal soon and make good progress after that! 🥰
I'm sorry to hear about that! This means that your new technique is not healthy - but if you follow the advice I share in this video, you will feel much better very soon! Good luck! ;)
My pleasure, Leo! Hand/arm fatigue can also be a result of incorrect practice (not just incorrect technique). I talk about this in the 2nd half of this video (which is available on ianoCareerAcademy.com). You can also watch my tutorials on correct practice, for example this one: ua-cam.com/video/__SiXXnaYOY/v-deo.html
Thank you an excellent tutorial on relaxing at the keyboard! Do you or tutorials include different genres of music, or is it only for classical music? Best wishes Laurie
Thank you, Laurie! 🥰 Most of my tutorials are focused on classical music - but I also cover occasional pieces 'for dessert' (jazz, pop & rock music, piano transcriptions of famous orchestral works etc.). You can learn more by reading the answer No. D10 from our detailed FAQ page [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ].
Excellent video, very clear explanations. I am very much at the beginning of piano journey, and as you have said the subject is enormous. May I ask what you think about the technique of single and double rotation of the forearm, as discussed by Edna Golandsky? I am excited to start to learn the piano, but want to be careful not to introduce bad habits, and want to go forward with good foundations.
Thank you very much! Edna Golandsky teaches according to the Taubman method. There are SOME little similarities between the Taubman technique and the technical fundamentals used in the Russian piano school - but there are also many conflicting differences. Combining these methods is not a good idea. My advice is to choose one method - and learn it properly :). In the Russian piano school, a healthy technique plays a double role: it is ergonomic, comfortable and brilliant - but it also allows us to create a beautiful, rich, noble piano tone. In other words, the basis of technique is sound production - and every ergonomic element you learn (may it be whole-arm action, weighted playing, wrist flexibility etc.) is wisely built to facilitate expression and good aural development (not just physical comfort). I am not an expert in the Taubman method, and I assume/hope they do something similar. Still, from watching several videos by Edna Golandsky (and other Taubman teachers) I noticed that they don't work on sound quality (or expressive development) as much as we (Russian-trained teachers) do. In many of their videos, the quality of the sound is a bit harsh, and technique is discussed as a separate element of piano playing. So technical development (including their 'iconic' forearm rotation) seems to be used for the sole purpose of physical comfort and injury-free playing (but I might be wrong about this). The Taubman method definitely works when it comes to injury prevention - this I know for sure. The Russian method (which is my area of expertise) is BOTH healthy and has an enormous expressive potential :).
@@pianocareer Thank you for your considered and clear reply. You have helped me decide which method to follow - and it is your method, and the Russian Piano School. Your comment above "...it is ergonomic, comfortable and brilliant - but it also allows us to create a beautiful, rich, noble piano tone" tipped the balance strongly towards your teaching - I will be signing up later today. Thank you.
Thank you for the great tips...please could you help my nearly 6 years old child..who started the journey of piano before the lockdown ....left hands are tight and left shoulder tight....with only the finger movement and please recommend one good textbook for my child...... we based in Southampton, England.both so frustrated evryday practicsing relaxing the arms and hands....while collapsing fingers....but actually before playing the piano should practise and understand the piano works and relaxing arms and but after knowing all the theory...how to improve it practically
Hi Jia! You are describing the usual consequences of the incorrect 'finger-only' approach (which is heavily focused on theory and reading, while completely ignoring healthy technique and expression). Your child is not alone - sadly, most beginners these days struggle with the same issues. Since your child is so young, my recommendation is to take lessons from a very experienced Russian-trained teacher (in person or via video chat). A method book is not enough: books can only tell you WHAT to play, not HOW to play it. Only a teacher can show you that. If you cannot find anyone at the moment, you can take a look at my Video Course for Beginners (which is based on the professional Russian system and the Nikolaev method book). However, since this is an online course, there are several very important things to keep in mind before following it with a young child - they are explained in my answer to question No. 39 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). You can also take a look at answer No. 17, where I describe the Course for Beginners - and answer No. 20 (about our feedback project). Good luck! ;)
This tutorial has proper English SUBTITLES (written by me, not UA-cam)! Just click the CC button to turn them on :). Also, here is the video breakdown (with clickable time stamps for each main idea):
00:02. Introduction.
00:46. Correct piano playing does not cause pain and injuries!
The 4 Mega-Causes of Piano Injuries:
01:37. Cause No. 1: Bad posture and incorrect arm alignment.
02:36. How to avoid injury.
03:38. A good piano posture is a fluid process, not a static 'hold'!
04:24. Cause No. 2: Incorrect technique.
05:11. A. Finger-only playing (and what to do instead to avoid injury).
09:09. B. 5-finger Legato playing during the early beginner stage (and the healthy ergonomic alternative).
11:29. C. Tension, stiffness and static playing (and how to relax your muscles without falling off the bench).
14:28. D. Exaggerated finger stretching (and how to connect wide intervals without overstretching your hand).
16:10. E. Keybedding (and learning when to let go).
17:27. Is a bit of fatigue normal when we practice?
18:34. Cause No. 3: Incorrect practice.
19:03. Where to find the rest of this tutorial...
Yes! I have noticed the precise subtitles :) Thanks for your effort and work!
What is the melody she's playing at 12:38 btw? Sounds like Waterloo Sunset by the Kinks! 😆
@@slzeman6079 Hi! At 12:38 I play the very beginning of a beautiful intermediate piece entitled 'Dreamy' op. 23, written by Henryk Pachulski (1859-1921). A full step-by-step tutorial is available on PianoCareerAcademy.com 😉.
I love this woman! She's brilliant brilliant brilliant. And her lessons are absolute gold.
Thank you so much, Colin! ;)
29 years old, finally starting my piano playing journey. I will save up to get the full lessons on the website. Wow.
Thank you, Lucky! We are looking forward to welcoming you to our community! ;)
Bought my first digital piano 2 weeks ago (FP30) and I've been practicing it daily. I teach myself by watching youtube videos and tutorials. I have practiced daily the 5 finger legato drills for beginners that you've mentioned and now I feel a slight strain on my right wrist :( Guess I was pressing the keys using my fingers and not using arm weight. I'm so thankful I found this video before I injure myself further! Please continue sharing your knowledge ❤ you have a gift for teaching piano and I only wish you could be my teacher!
Hi! Thank you! :) I'm happy that you found this video in time, before you did more damage to your wrist. Assigning 5-finger exercises to beginners should be illegal by now - I get so sad when I see that they are still being recommended :(. By the way, you CAN study with me, by joining my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com. As a member of PCA you will learn how to play correctly by following my Video Course for Beginners. This Course will help you to develop ALL your piano skills (healthy technique, expression, hearing, reading, theory & analysis, pedaling etc.) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school. You can learn more by reading my answer to question No. 17 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Good luck! ;)
I am also a beginner and teaching myself from utube . Not easy.
Some people might not have the circumstance to pay for pianos lessons because life is different for some but I really do enjoy that you are giving them small but important lessons for free on UA-cam this really shows that you really care about us and you respect us and we do respect you hello from Armenia.
THIS IS SO USEFUL. Clear explanations with great use of rhetorical reasoning. I’ve been playing wrong for years and definitely feel the pain and tension in my wrists and hands now.
I'm really happy that this video was helpful! 😊 I hope your wrists and hands feel better soon!
These videos are the absolute best I have found on youtube. I've watched hundreds of hours of piano tutorials to try to figure out how to play properly after a long break from piano and being 100% self taught. The Russian method seems to make the most sense to me and these videos explain things so thoroughly that I think I'm going to get a membership on the website. Thank you so much for putting the work into making these tutorials. I almost feel relieved that I can start focusing on this Russian method and stop being confused by many of the other channels on youtube which give conflicting information. Its hard to know what is correct when you're self taught...
Thank you so much for your appreciation, Michael! We're looking forward to welcoming you to PCA! 😊
Oh my gosh! I’m coming from viola and have been getting left hand tension pain after just a few minutes. Your explanation of not just using the fingers alone is something I never thought of. I don’t have the problem with my right hand, but that’s my bow hand which is used to using the whole arm.
I'm happy this video was helpful! Regarding the 'finger myth', which is sadly still so common nowadays, you could also watch episode No. 2 from my new Myth series - where I talk about this topic in lots of detail. The first episode is available here on UA-cam [ ua-cam.com/video/2vCiYULr2K4/v-deo.html ]. Episodes No. 2-7 are free as well, but only available to our email newsletter subscribers.
I am studying this video religiously and taking notes! This is going to save my playing! Thank you so, so much. I truly appreciate the advice in this video.
You are very welcome, Nate! Thank you so much for your appreciation! :)))
1:00 “never tolerate pain”. I’ve been arthritic since my mid 20s. Pain is a way of life for many.
Hi! That statement ("never tolerate pain") should not be understood out of context. I was talking about piano-related pain - not medical conditions. Piano-related pain is a symptom of incorrect technique and/or practice habits, and should never be tolerated. Sadly, too many people these days (who are perfectly healthy otherwise) struggle with chronic hand/wrist/forearm pain because of their poor technique. In time, this pain degenerates into injuries that are very hard to heal. Most of our members at PCA come to us as a last resort, after trying all those 'become a virtuoso in 30 days' shallow courses that pay no attention to ergonomics or proper sound production. 99% of them experience a huge relief after following my tutorials and re-building their technique - and forget about pain completely.
Obviously, medical conditions such as arthritis are a completely different category - and I try not to discuss them in my videos (since I am not a doctor). I am aware that in some cases, people suffering from arthritis ALSO play the piano and experience pain (I'm really sorry about this!). In such situations a correct piano technique will obviously not cure arthritis - but it can still make your playing experience more comfortable, free and enjoyable. And, of course, bad technique could aggravate arthritis - which is another reason to play ergonomically 😊.
I am a beginner and I have watched many piano lessons online but you are by far the best piano teacher I have come across. You teach the piano technique in a very logical and professional sense which makes me believe what you are saying is right. I am slowly trying to learn the correct way to press the piano keys so that the sound is more melodious. Thank you for offering your expertise I appreciate it very much ma'am. :)
Thank you so much, Sayjen! I'm really happy that you enjoy my tutorials! :)
Your videos are absolutely wonderful, especially for serious students. Very high quality. When I browse piano tutorial videos on UA-cam and read some of the comments-----"I don't want to bother learning to read music"---"I don't want to learn music theory, it's too complicated"---I just cringe. I, too, would love to learn to play like Valentina Lisitsa or Yuja Wang in 2 months. But, obviously that's absurd. Your videos are the best on UA-cam for someone who is serious about learning to play the piano and accepts that it is a very long road. Your videos are great for helping serious students progress as rapidly as is humanly possible and, at the same time, not develop really bad habits because they have a "not especially knowledgeable" teacher. Thank you for your very high quality instruction.
Thank you so much, Kanti! Your comment is spot on - helping students make serious (and long-term) progress is my No. 1 intention! ;)
Love her english, its very colorful, almost poetic lol.
Thank you! Yes, I think that ‘poetic’ is a good way to describe my teaching style. It’s not just about my English, it’s a deliberate (and very effective) professional teaching strategy :).
So glad I have found you! I am a beginner adult student who felt into the trap that I could learn to play songs in a short few lessons. I do play songs, but I have terrible posture and there is no musicality. I look forward to learning full arm weight technique.
Thank you, Iris! Indeed, this is the No. 1 trap that beginners fall into these days. I will actually publish a UA-cam video on this topic very soon! :)
It's important to note that if students keep their hands and fingers totally rigid, they end up using only their arms or wrists to depress the keys like a giant lever. The result typically is a lack of motor skills at the finger tips for independent control.
It's important to remain in contact with the keyboard and to depress the keys using the weight of the key, instead of lifting fingers up to then press back down. First instincts are almost always to press the keys like an elevator button lol.
I think that the Russian technique rubbed off onto me when I was studying, since my best teacher was indeed a Russian concert pianist and although he was super disciplined, he was always emphasising so many of the things you mentioned here.
Excellent video! Thank you so much!
Thank you for your appreciation, Eph-Jay! ;) Yes, piano playing is a fluid process - so any rigidity leads to technical and expressive limitations (not to mention the physical discomfort). Remaining in contact with the keys is useful in some cases - but it cannot be automatically applied to all types of layouts (or articulation effects) :).
@@pianocareer ❤️
Beautifully explained. I normally play wind instruments and only started to pick up the piano recently. I instinctively did exactly what you mentioned. The moment I felt stiff in my arms and wrists I stopped playing and started researching. There is so much to learn from your holistic full body approach that can in fact be transferred to other instruments and styles. Especially flute players struggle a lot with RSI. What a good reminder that ( physical ) tension makes no sense at all when playing an instrument. Thank you !
Thank you, Craig! I'm really happy that this video was helpful! 😊
this is probably the most helpful and educational video for learning pianists on youtube, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
You're very welcome! :)))
all these bad habits are good habits for a guitarist. now it all makes sense! ive been treating the piano like an electric guitar. time to unlearn some bad habits. i suppose i shouldnt write for 4-6 hours at a time anymore
youre guidance is very much appreciated! very concise and clear. thank you
You're very welcome, Jason! :) Enjoy your practice!
This is an incredibly intelligent, gentle, and inspiring guide. Just amazing.
Thank you so much, it means a lot! 😊
Thank you! I got shoulder pain from practicing piano and this vid really helps!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your pain, Andy - and I hope you feel better soon! I'm happy the video was helpful! 😊
This video is extremely helpful for my understanding the big picture of how I began to develop bad habits in my piano learning journey which started 4 years ago. Now, I am unsure how to begin correcting my entrenched problems of finger-based playing, stiff hands and wrists, total lack of whole-arm playing and lack of hand-weight playing. These problems have not caused me injury yet (I'm playing only at the grade 4 level in the Royal Conservatory), but to use this instructor's words, they are "sabotaging" my playing for sure. So I will peruse the academy site and seriously consider subscribing. In the meantime I'm so grateful for the large number of helpful, clear, videos you have provided to all, including this one. Thank you!
You are very welcome, Lisa! :) Our Courses at PianoCareerAcademy.com have been specifically designed to help our members re-train their entire skillset, and get rid of bad habits such as the ones you described. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our community! ;)
I am just discovering this channel now. I absolutely love it. This is a great video. An in-depth look at an important subject that isn't talked about enough. This is something I've been struggling with on and off for a while - piano, drums, guitar, bass all adding up. I've been scouring the internet looking for something just like this, and I have finally found this. You are the Holy Grail of teachers. I will certainly be sharing this with other! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Hi Jon! Welcome to my channel - and thank you SO MUCH for your appreciation! I'm really happy to hear that my tutorials are helpful! ;)
This is the either the fourth or fifth video tutorial of yours, I've watched today. Although I took piano lessons at age 10 for a short time, over the years I didn't keep up with training or practicing except for occasionally. Recently, I purchased a better keyboard than the one I had been using since 2012 and later may get a piano. For now though, I'd just like to improve my musical theory knowledge and playing techniques and believe your online piano academy will help achieve this. Ilinca, I really like your tutorial videos because of the way that you fully explain each topic and how it relates to getting the most satisfaction out of playing without causing physical neck, shoulder, arm, wrist or finger muscle injuries. I am signing up to your piano academy today because from what I've seen in the 4 or 5 videos I've watched earlier today there is too much to gain and virtually nothing to loose. Thanks for sharing these introductory tutorial videos.
Hi James! Thank you so much for your appreciation, and for sharing your experience! We're looking forward to welcoming you to PianoCareerAcademy! ;)
I love it. "It's a movie not a picture". Great analogy to describe proper posture. Thank you as always for sharing your skills and knowledge. Been watching some of your older videos from 2013 and noticed how beautiful you still are. In fact you're like wine. The older you get the better you are. Have a lovely day my beautiful Russian pianist. I feel like I need to be bringing you an apple for being an awesome teacher. (and pretty too)
PS. I just went to the piano and was thinking more relaxing as I was playing and my playing was smoother. Yee haw.. That was awesome...
Thank you, Jesse! I'm happy this video was useful! By the way, personal comments are not appropriate on this channel. Thank you for your understanding.
@@pianocareer My apologies dear pianist.
I am just starting to learn how to play and I just want to say thank you! I am software engineering so my hands are important to me. You are brilliant and I will continue watching your videos. If only I can find a local teacher that teaches your style.
I'm really happy to hear that my videos are helpful! :) By the way, if you don't find a local Russian-trained teacher, you can always join PianoCareerAcademy - where you get unlimited access to an enormous library of tutorials and step-by-step courses (plus feedback to your playing).
Astonishingly detailed albeit precise. I love your analogies and comparisons too. Simply brilliant and much appreciated.
Thank you so much! 🥰
@@pianocareer Thank you! :-)
Thanks for the help, I think I might take a break, every time I play the piano my left arm hurts and feels so stiff. I will try to follow your advice, thanks again!
You are very welcome! Yes, taking a break is the first step in recovering from an injury. When you feel better, you need to slowly and safely re-assess and rebuild your technique and practice habits :).
Excellent explanation, bravo. Tried this approach and my playing became much more relaxed, less tension too. Should have watched much earlier.
I'm really happy to hear that this video was helpful, Sam! :)
You are probably one of the best teacher on this internet. I learned more in one video clip than all my previous years. Thank you so much for sharing the Russian Piano School concepts, they are priceless. I will consider in a near future studying with you (even if piano is not my main instrument) Blessings to you!
Thank you so so much, Michel! Happy to hear you found this video useful! :)
I'm currently learning Rach's Etude Tableau Op. 39 No. 6. My fingers were on band-aids because of how difficult it is for 3 days, and how profound of a technique you'd need for the A section of the piece. After watching this, I quickly saw that I was so unnatural in my play, my posture wasn't there and my hands were a little below the keys. I've now done proper posture, and learned to be fluid in executing technique, and I can say I improved in just 15 minutes after watching the whole video. I'm now happily over the A section and now moving on to the menacing chords. Thanks alot!
You're very welcome! I'm so happy to hear that this video was helpful! :) Little tip: besides practicing this Etude, don't forget that re-training your technique (and learning whole-arm action) is much more efficient when we work on easier repertoire. If the foundation is solid, we can build anything on top of it. I have detailed tutorials on this topic in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy :).
Now I understand why some pianists play with those accentuated hand movements.
Tbf I thought it was mostly an affectation to show how “serious” they were about their playing but I’ll cut them some slack.
Good pointers - thanks for the video!
I'm happy to hear that you decided to cut all those great pianists 'some slack'! :))))) Jokes aside - I'm glad you found this tutorial helpful! ;)
Thank you for this video. I started learning piano last week (self-taught for now due to COVID) and had to stop due to hand and wrist pains after practicing scales. I will incorporate these tips once the pain is gone so that I can continue learning to play for a long time :)
Hi Christine! Practicing scales after only one week of playing the piano is a very, very bad idea! :( No wonder you experience pain! In the Russian system, in the first week of practice our beginners only learn the fundamentals of whole-arm action - by playing one note at a time, with the entire relaxed arm and flexible wrist, non-legato (so without connecting the notes). They also learn the basics of correct posture and sound production. My Course for Beginners (which is available on PianoCareerAcademy) is based on this professional approach. In my program, scales & arpeggios are only introduced after completing Lesson No. 48 for Beginners - when our members can already play legato safely, with a healthy and relaxed whole-arm technique (and a beautiful sound). Lesson No. 1 from my Beginner Course is available for free (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/), along with a couple of other sample Lessons - and you can also learn more about this Course by reading my answer to question No. 17 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Good luck! ;)
I love this women, she’s fantastic. I wish I had studied with her before I got hurt.
Thank you so much, Phil! I hope your injury is not severe! The good news is that most injuries heal in time - and then it's never to late to learn how to play with a healthy technique. Good luck! ;)
@@pianocareer thank you! It’s been three years, two surgeries and many therapies but no help. Where are you located may I ask?
@@philbarone4603 I'm really sorry to hear that! :( To answer your question - I dedicate my entire time to PianoCareerAcademy.com, which is an online Piano Coaching Program (therefore we are located on the internet). You can learn more about PCA and its functionality by taking a look at our FAQ page (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
This video is amazing it helped a lot, thank you!
I'm so glad to hear that! :))
wow "its a movie not a picture"! Thank you so much i saw your video played back by 15% and i can see how straight your wrist elbows and shoulders are. I was looking into this cause i have a pain on my inside elbow (im a self taught player [Bach, Yurima] that likes structure) but not sure now after watching your video if its because of me playing the piano or guitar.
I found this to be quite useful. I am a beginner with no teacher yet and my posture was horrible and was causing some pain in my right forearm. This should help!!
Hi Markos! Being self-taught is indeed difficult - especially when you don't have access to high-quality learning resources. The things I mention in this video are a good place to start - but one tutorial will not instantly fix your posture and technique. You can learn more by watching some of my other free videos :).
@@pianocareer I subscribed and will be watching more videos. Thanks!!
Your technique is beautiful in how you move your arms like wing on the piano. I’m 16 and just starting but I think I’m gonna sign up for your academy so I can play like you✊🏽
Thank you very much! We are looking forward to welcoming you to PianoCareerAcademy! :))
I really struggle with carpal tunnel when practicing fast pieces like fantasie impromptu for example and I realised my posture was the problem so this is very helpful thank you 🙂
You are very welcome, John! When it comes to pain triggered by speed, it's usually a combination of incorrect posture, technique and practice habits :).
As a 50 year old beginner, the only things that hurts when I play are my ears from my lousy piano playing. 🙃
Thank you so much for your video, you are a wonderful Teacher and pianist.
Thank you so much, John! The 'ear pain' is a good thing, it guides us towards a more beautiful sound :)).
@@pianocareer Thank you for seeing the humor in my post. :)
Thank you again for your wonderful video as I do find myself sitting w poor posture often which always leads to pain throughout my body.
As a very old beginner, I sincerely appreciate your video and I will focus more on overall posture as you describe so well. I’ve saved your video so I can refer to it often for proper posture.
You are a wonderful Teacher and such an accomplished pianist. Please continue helping others and making a positive impact in our world as you do. :)
you analogies are so amazing
Thank you so much! I love love love every one of your videos. So well explained, answered a lot of my questions. My daughter is 9 years old, learning piano with a Russian teacher. Tone quality is one of the top priorities. Could you please give her some suggestion on how to play a piece with graceful fluid style and great tone quality? It is so difficult for her to do the both at the same time. We will keep watching your videos. thank you again.
Thank you! I'm happy to hear that your daughter is studying with a good Russian teacher! Great tone quality and fluid style are achieved through a lot of correct practice, combined with very good ear control. Coordinating both tasks is easier if the pieces are not too difficult, and every little motif is broken down into 'conquerable' chunks (hands separately first, non-legato). I call this practice method 'the magnifying glass', and I describe it in a lot of detail on PianoCareerAcademy.com :).
Thank you soo much madam
Because of you I reduced and recoverd my terrible injuries
I'm very happy and learned a lot from your lesson😇
You're very welcome, Aadhi! Always practice safely and correctly! :)
On a video on the hanon exercises, someone mentioned stopping at the first sign of pain. Someone else had to ask why... I had ri explain that pain is a sign of injury. Hanon, especially if using the five finger technique exactly as prescribed in the book (and by the pianist in that video) can be carpal tunnel in a book. I still use the exercises in my personal practice, but adapt the technique.
"Carpal tunnel in a book" - that's a great way of putting it! Yes, Hanon CAN be useful and safe - but only if practiced by using whole-arm action. Anything can be useful if practiced correctly, in fact 😊. Thank you for sharing!
@@pianocareer When I first learned it, I used the finger only action. The first hint that something was wrong was numbness in my wrists. Learning whole-arm was a game changer.
How can you adapt the technique ?
I’m practicing Hanon exercise 1 and I feel pain in my left hand I have tried something different each time of practice but now I have pain in my left side: shoulder, back, arm and hand :(
@@v.elizabethrojas1169 Incorporate wrist movement and whole hand technique to reduce the finger movements. I'm primarily an organist more than a pianist. Some organs have key actions far heavier than pianos. The pieces that cemented the need to adapt were the Toccata finales from the Widor 5th Symphony and Boellman's Suite Gothique.
@@v.elizabethrojas1169 I will add that the best idea is to stop playing Hanon altogether, and learn whole-arm action and weighted playing from scratch, non-legato first. Then, once the new technique is well assimilated, you can apply it to anything you want (including Hanon). However, I have a strong feeling that once you discover a better way to practice (and more efficient scales and Studies), you will never go back to Hanon 😇.
This was fantastic. I have started to play again after a break and have pain in my right wrist and hand. I will keep these advices in mind 🙂
Thank you, Pearl! Once you adopt a healthy and ergonomic technique, your pain will inevitably go away :).
Wow. I wondering for years and why my right hand wrist would tense up after a couple of pieces, and you’ve shown me exactly why. For so long, I believed that the right way to play, especially if you are playing very fast, is to use only your fingers, and keep your wrist basically static. I attribute my technical ignorance to being entirely self-taught, however, you have shown me the truth in just one video. I’m extremely thankful, and I feel blessed that I stumbled upon this video. Thank you so much!
Hi Ernest! I'm so happy to hear that this video was helpful! :) Thank you very much for your comment and appreciation!
I have injury due to repetition of finger exercise, perhaps using finger only method. I have watched your video long ago but forgot and did intense repeated exercise suddenly. This video is great. I will try to use the proper wrist movement. You should make more videos like this, or include the 7 ways of incorrect practice. God bless u. Repetition should not be used in practice, this is why so many people say that Hanon exercises produces injury.
Hi! I'm really sorry to hear about your injury - and I hope you feel better after applying the recommendations I share in the video above. Please don't forget that a healthy technique is not just about proper wrist movement. Our entire body participates in piano playing - especially our back and the bigger muscles of the shoulders and upper arms. If whole-arm action and weighted playing are internalized correctly, the wrist/hand/fingers are much easier to control. I have detailed tutorials on these topics on PianoCareerAcademy.com - including step-by-step Courses. By the way, repetition itself is not the problem - INCORRECT repetition is ☺️. Even Hanon can be useful if practiced correctly - but, of course, I do not recommend these outdated exercises (as I explain in my detailed article on this topic - which you can find in our FAQs, answer No. F6 [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ].
This video was the best sales tool I've ever seen. I have only begun to learn and I made every single mistake on here and you make it so easy to grasp why I should correct it. Thank you.
Thank you, Roland! :) This video synthesizes my experience on this topic acquired during more than 10 years of working with Western students (as part of PianoCareerAcademy). So of course, it highlights the most frequent mistakes :).
I love the way you describe things
Very useful information, up voting and subscribing, looking forward to seeing more
Thank you so much, Shaun! I hope you enjoy my other UA-cam videos as well! 😉
You describe everything very poetically.
Thank you! That's part of the Russian method :).
A video I’ll watch over again I’m sure as a reminder, and to find something new each time. Thank you!
My pleasure! I'm happy to hear that this video was useful! ;)
Thank you so much for your great wonderful instruction !
Very helpful !
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your appreciation! :)))
Hi Ilinca, Henry T here (one of your PCA Students)! Funny story, today 15 Feb 2020 I was at my local music store here in Colorado Springs, Colorado [U.S.] and I was discussing with the Owner how I think I've found a local Instructor to teach me how to deal with stage-fright when playing the piano. I was trying to explain how happy I was with PCA and I was trying to determine the best way to broach the subject with my new Instructor because I didn't want to seem/be dismissive about being taught how to play from them because the Russian method has proven itself to me to be the absolute best approach to learning properly. The funny thing was, I was there to buy piano books and when doing so I pull up the books songs on UA-cam and help determine if it's something I want to add to my library. Anyway, I'm chatting away with UA-cam in one of my ears and I begin to hear what sounds like YOU talking. I keep chatting and such and begin to leave when I look at my phone and BAM!!! It is you with a brand new pist for the day. I was so ecstatic I had to go back and show the Owner part of the video. Now how timely was that. Gotta love PCA!😉
Hi Henry - thank you for dropping by here on UA-cam! :) What a coincidence! :))) By the way, don't forget that you can watch the full video in the Members Area of PCA.
I will join your online course once I get my new piano 🎹 . I feel like I can learn with you ! I like your way of approach to teaching the piano and mental preparation for the long term:)
Thank you, Adrian! We are looking forward to welcoming you to our community! :)
thanks for this queen
I have been waiting for this for a long time and it’s finally here!!!😂😂😂 ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Rachel! :D
I unfortunately have a broken knuckle from a childhood injury so my right ring finger is lower than my others. In short it’s hard for me to play an Am chord on the piano without putting my hand into an awkward and slightly painful position. My right pinky basically has no independence and can’t bend much without my ring finger following. I never really noticed before since I only played guitar and ukulele using my left hand, but when I decided to pick up piano too that’s when I saw my greatest weakness. It hasn’t discouraged me from learning but it has slowed down my progression some what. Anyways this video helps as I was doing the very first thing wrong and just slouched as I played. Mostly cause I was using my phone to read tabs and it’s so small that I couldn’t see without putting my face closer 😂, so I got myself a cheap tablet just so I wouldn’t have to be so close.
A goldmine of good, common sense information has been presented here!🎹
Thank you! :)
Thank you for the tips on avoiding hand injuries. Really helpful and thorough👍
Thank you very much!
I seem to have developed lump on top of my right hand wrist after a couple of weeks practicing Lacrimosa...
From what I read it is called "ganglion cyst". It's causing me slight pain...
Could this be related to practicing a hard piece like Lacrimosa?
I have been playing piano for a few months...
Would you suggest leaving this piece untill my hand is more trained?
@@siamaksamavat1851 Wrist cysts CAN appear as a result of trauma (such as the tension and pain associated with incorrect technique and practice). However, since I am not a doctor, I don't know if there are other possible causes (so my opinion cannot be considered medical advice). As a pianist, what I CAN tell you with 100% accuracy, is that beginners should NOT practice advanced pieces! If you do so, you're simply asking for trouble (including injuries), and sabotaging your progress. You can learn why by watching this detailed free video: ua-cam.com/video/2vCiYULr2K4/v-deo.html . It is the first episode from my 'Piano Myths' series.
Excellent instruction…totally changed my approach to keyboard. So important for beginners to professionals. Thank you ❤
You're very welcome! I'm really happy this video was helpful! 🥰
Fantastic advice. So glad I found you.
Thank you, Gregor! ;)
I love this tutorial. I have a little pain when playing 7-chords.
Thank you, Damaris! Wide chords can cause pain because of the stretch. On top of the foundational solutions I mention in this video, the 'breathing hands' technique (which I cover in many of my PCA tutorials) is also very useful for relieving stretch-related tension.
The way I was taught was in the "finger school" of playing. The smaller and more specific the muscle used, the more precise tone you can achieve. It's not so much "finger only", as it is "fingers grant the most specificity and character to any given note". The back, relative to the arm, relative to the fingers, are to pianists like different sizes of paint brushes are to painters. I have absolute faith in my teacher so I am not about to question that notion. That said, are there good ways to apply your advice to someone who is grounded in the finger school? I ask for the sake of my upper back and shoulders.
Hi Forg! I think that the concept of 'whole-arm' technique is quite misunderstood nowadays. I agree with your metaphor about brush sizes - it describes the essence of whole-arm action quite well. Using the whole body is the foundation, it's the 'default' position, it's where the energy comes from, it's the biggest 'brush' we use, it's effortless and energy-efficient. Once we know how to do that, once we learn how to channel weight, how to use gravity and leverage to our advantage (and not press the keys with inefficient separate finger movements), we CAN, and we DO use the arm, forearm, wrist, hand and fingers in different combinations, depending on our technical and expressive purposes. Sometimes we play a note by only moving the last finger phalange - while other times, the entire body weight participates. In the 'whole-arm' school, the secret is to keep the body and arm connection active even when using the fingertip - so that there are no blockages and tension in the wrist, elbow and shoulder. So the 'line of energy', the 'hose' always remains free and flowing (even when no weight is channeled). The main problem of the 'finger school' is stiffness and constriction in the joints (not just the fact that the upper body does not participate, or that the finger muscles are too weak for the heavy piano keys). Yes, some 'finger school' pianists intuitively keep the arms/wrists loose - and while their technique is different from the one I teach, they do not have injuries. However, because mainstream teachers do not pay enough attention to ergonomics (only focusing on what the fingers are doing), this older technique usually causes lots of damage. So if you feel pain or discomfort in your back and shoulders, it means that there is tension in your playing. The exact solution depends on your individual situation - and I will only share a couple of ideas to get you started:
• keep the arms and wrists loose and flowing - one line of energy from back to fingertips;
• straight back, shoulders down and relaxed;
• correct posture and distance from the piano ( ua-cam.com/video/InqmH-o1cX0/v-deo.html ) - if you sit too low and/or too close, tension is inevitable;
• healthy and consistent practice habits ( ua-cam.com/video/IPvBV6cpxQQ/v-deo.html ).
I obviously have many other tips, but they are inseparable from whole-arm action :).
This video is what I need. I'm learning piano on my own.... Big thanks!! I hope you can make videos about piano techniques for handicapped amateurs like (I'm suffering from symbrodactyly). So far your short tutorials improved my scales and positioning on the piano.
Thank you, Jann! :) In all my videos (including the step-by-step courses and hundreds of stand-alone tutorials available on PianoCareerAcademy.com) I share the professional principles of the Russian piano school. This is a complex holistic system - and technique is only one of its 'pillars' (as I explain in this free video: ua-cam.com/video/s0fFVGzBFqc/v-deo.html ). While I am not a doctor (and therefore cannot speak about specific conditions or disabilities) - still, the ergonomic technical foundation that I teach makes use of universally-applicable principles such as relaxation, flexibility, freedom of motion, weight transfer and weight channeling - and also gravity and leverage. The purpose of these ergonomic principles is to avoid tension and injury - and also offer great expressive and technical power. Just like the laws of physics apply to all of us - similarly, a healthy technique can be successfully used by all players, but it is important to learn it in a step-by-step manner :).
Hi, this video is so informative and helps me to grasp the idea of how the natural movements should be. Thank you!
I have a question though- although playing the piano using the arm weight without any tension is crucial, it’s difficult to do so when the joints and knuckles are not strong enough yet to support the arm weight/movement.
If i try to play with the natural arm weight and avoid any tensions, my finger joints and knuckles tend to collapse (get flat). But if i try to have my fingers and knuckles strong to support the weight, i get tense up. So I always come to the conclusion that I might just have to train my fingers separately…
Do you have any suggestions or exercises to resolve this?- to have the good supports in fingers and knuckle yet still avoid all the tensions in arms?
Thank you!
Hi! Thank you for your appreciation! 😊 Whole-arm action is a complex technique, and there is a step-by-step process to learning it. This entire process is covered in my Video Course for Beginners (available on PianoCareerAcademy.com). We start with non-legato whole-arm movements, one finger (and one note) at a time. During this exercise we internalize several crucial elements: weighted playing, gradual deep key attack, joint flexibility, wrist relaxation and hand/finger strength (to support the weight). All of them are essential - and whole-arm action is in fact the best finger-strengthening exercise. When these fundamental elements are assimilated we move to easy pieces where we need to play several notes in a row (still non-legato) - and then eventually to legato. By the way, you can learn more about our Beginner Course by taking a look at my answer to question No. D2 from our FAQ page [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ]. I hope this helps! 😉
@@pianocareer Thank you very much for your amazing advice on this!
I just checked your website and am impressed. It looks thorough and helpful. I’m considering to subscribe it! Hope your course will help me fix my issue and I can get a better technique.
Thank you so much.
@@yk9987 My pleasure! Looking forward to welcoming you to PCA! 🥰
Thanks so much for this video! Right now I have a wrist and thumb brace on my left hand caused by passing under and stretching in scales, Hannon, and pieces. I’ve reluctantly concluded that I need to stop playing with that hand for several days and concentrate on mastering the treble cleft in my pieces. Another contributing factor is that my joints are very flexible allowing them to move past the point that the muscles can safely move.
Hi Susanne! It sounds to me that your technique is not entirely ergonomic when you work on your scales (the terms 'passing under' and 'stretching' are relics from the past, and they are rarely used in healthy piano playing). Please pay special attention to the part of the video where I talk about technical mistakes - I hope it is helpful! ;)
Hi, first of all thank you very much for your work. In the past have you made more detailed videos on the 5 fingers exercises or on the weight transfer in practising scales? They would be very useful for me. Again thank you from Italy
Hi Paolo! I have an entire Scale & Arpeggio Course (consisting of many detailed progressive lessons). You can find it in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy.com. This Course covers the entire scale system used in the Russian piano school - including weight transfer, developing velocity, dexterity, coordination, power etc. - and MANY many other important things. You can learn more about this Course by reading my answer to question No. 19 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
Keeping my elbows tucked in was causing all sorts of tension in my wrist and forearm. It sucked. When I found out how to fix it by putting my elbows out a little, the pain immediately went away
I'm happy to hear that! Enjoy your practice! 😊
Best technique video I’ve ever watched. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Simon! ;)
How I would love to take a lesson with you!! I have so many little technique issues that were never addressed 😢
Hi! Because of my overloaded schedule at PianoCareerAcademy I sadly cannot offer individual lessons - but you are always welcome to join our program! As a member of PCA you will have unlimited access to every single lesson I have ever created - almost 1000 tutorials for all levels (including step-by-step Courses) focused on a very wide range of pieces, topics and problems. Besides solving the technical issues you are currently struggling with, you will also develop all your other piano skills in a harmonious, well-rounded manner - taking your playing to a whole new level of mastery. More information at the end of the video above - and in the Description Box :).
Very informative, great content thank you
Thank you, John! Glad it was helpful! :)
I am learning guitar and stretch my fingers regularly. I will be very careful. Thanks for this helpful video!
You explained it so well! Thank you for this great video!
Can you do a video on chopin’s prelude e minor please
Hi! This is a good idea - I put it on my very long to-do list :).
I definitely need a teacher after I finish college lol
I love to play and if only best to use proper technique but there’s no substitute for an experienced teacher.
Learning Ballade 1 caused me a hand injury so i have to stop playing for a few weeks at least 😢
Yes, absolutely! Learning how to play piano without a teacher (especially if you are practicing black-belt pieces such as Chopin's 1st Ballade) is certainly not a good idea. I'm sorry hear about your hand injury, and I hope that the advice I share in the video above will be helpful! Most importantly, you need to re-train your technique, and go back to easier repertoire for a while. Good luck! ;)
Some Amazing Pianist lean forward when playing certain measures of the playing piece,
Yes, a bit of leaning cannot hurt us if the overall technique is ergonomic :). The type of tensed leaning I mentioned in the video is very different from the natural leaning done by great pianists.
@@pianocareer oh ok thank you
This was really good, thank you
You are very welcome, Paul! :)
Wow. I've been doing pretty much all of these. Thank you very much for sharing!
You're so welcome! :)
Thank you so much for this advice. As a beginner, I found this very helpful.
You are so welcome! :)
This tutorial is informative, pointing out the mistakes normally committed by a beginner like me. I request for some more exclusive readings, videos on the subject as Learning to play Piano should get a pleasure and not lead to fatigue , as I intend to learn scientifically, as you well explained and taught. Your more suggestions on the subject will help me a lot as I have recently realised that I often misunderstand piano as computer, resulting in practising time lesser than required.
Thank you, Naresh! To learn more, you can watch my free tutorials about correct posture and key attack - and also Lesson No. 1 from my Course for Beginners. Here they are:
1. www.pianocareer.com/piano-posture/correct-piano-posture/
2. www.pianocareer.com/piano-sound/correct-piano-key-attack/
3. www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/
Great tuto, thanks ! It's true that many teachers still rely on a technique coming from the harpsichord..
Thank you, Philippe! :)
Brava Maestra! Outstanding instruction!
Thank you very much! :)
Excellent video tutorial👍👏. You do a great job explaining your topic in clear, relatively simple terms & using examples. Thank you very much!
Thank you, Jim - I'm so happy that you enjoyed this video! ;)
Love this video very much. You play elegantly, the melody is beautiful, and it looks relaxed. I hope to learn and to play piano like you 🙏
Thank you very much, Susan! ;)
Everytime I try to pick up a new skill I end up injuring myself. I'm trying to get ahead of the problem this time, so thank you.
You are very welcome! This is a wise decision - as prevention is always better than treatment 😊.
I'm in this strange situation. I'm self taught, practicing chopin 25-12 ocean on a Roland FP-10 keyboard and my forearms get obliterated just 30-40% into the piece if I try to go anywhere near the suggested BPM. It feels like the velocity needed for each note is enough to require tons of effort. I have no clue how good my technique is, I was able to learn Fantaisie Impromptu a few years ago and have a lot of synthesizer experience but I admit stretching my skill level to learn more and more difficult things. And I worry this digital piano might have too heavy an action to play pieces like this...
Hi Yasha! This is not a strange situation :). It's perfectly normal to feel tension while playing such an incredibly difficult Etude if you are self-taught, and not familiar with the basics of whole-arm action, ergonomic technique and correct practice. Professional pianists need to study for at least 8-10 years in order to be able to approach this piece. During this time they build a serious technical foundation (scales & arpeggios, progressive studies, enormous and varied repertoire etc.), they learn how to practice correctly, how to build their endurance etc. You can learn more about the downsides (and dangers) of trying to learn advanced virtuosic pieces without a proper foundation by reading my answer to question No. F4 from our FAQ page (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs). The solution is, of course, to choose the progressive path ;).
Gold! Thank you!
You are very welcome! I'm happy it was helpful! :)
Thank you so much for such an informative video. I have been getting quite a bit of pain in my arms and it is attributed to pretty much everything that you have mentioned. To be honest this was never covered by my piano teacher despite reaching grade 8 over 3 decades ago. I guess this also explains why I can not even get through 2 pages of Beethoven's Pathetique when my arms start ro give up. Time to really strip back before venturing anything advanced!
I'm happy this video was helpful - and I am so sorry to hear about your pain! 😥 The scenario you described is sadly very common. Many of our members at PianoCareerAcademy are intermediate or advanced players with bad habits and an unhealthy technique - and I have build an entire 're-training experience' for them in the Members Area. Absolutely - you need to correct your technique before trying to learn advanced works - otherwise the pain will keep coming back. Good luck, and I hope you heal soon and make good progress after that! 🥰
Before I was able to play the piano fine, but I wanted to relearn and I suffered a heavy muscle pain in the wrist
I'm sorry to hear about that! This means that your new technique is not healthy - but if you follow the advice I share in this video, you will feel much better very soon! Good luck! ;)
Thank you, this video helped me a lot. When I was practicing Chopin Etude 12, my left hand would tire out after a while
My pleasure, Leo! Hand/arm fatigue can also be a result of incorrect practice (not just incorrect technique). I talk about this in the 2nd half of this video (which is available on ianoCareerAcademy.com). You can also watch my tutorials on correct practice, for example this one: ua-cam.com/video/__SiXXnaYOY/v-deo.html
MUCH APPRECIATED IT FANTASTIC LESSON !!!! NEW SUB HERE !!!
Thank you very much, Rafael! :)
Very informative, thank you very much. You have a very relaxing voice. And is a great teacher.
Thank you! 😃
Thank you an excellent tutorial on relaxing at the keyboard! Do you or tutorials include different genres of music, or is it only for classical music? Best wishes
Laurie
Thank you, Laurie! 🥰 Most of my tutorials are focused on classical music - but I also cover occasional pieces 'for dessert' (jazz, pop & rock music, piano transcriptions of famous orchestral works etc.). You can learn more by reading the answer No. D10 from our detailed FAQ page [ www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs ].
Excellent video, very clear explanations. I am very much at the beginning of piano journey, and as you have said the subject is enormous. May I ask what you think about the technique of single and double rotation of the forearm, as discussed by Edna Golandsky? I am excited to start to learn the piano, but want to be careful not to introduce bad habits, and want to go forward with good foundations.
Thank you very much! Edna Golandsky teaches according to the Taubman method. There are SOME little similarities between the Taubman technique and the technical fundamentals used in the Russian piano school - but there are also many conflicting differences. Combining these methods is not a good idea. My advice is to choose one method - and learn it properly :). In the Russian piano school, a healthy technique plays a double role: it is ergonomic, comfortable and brilliant - but it also allows us to create a beautiful, rich, noble piano tone. In other words, the basis of technique is sound production - and every ergonomic element you learn (may it be whole-arm action, weighted playing, wrist flexibility etc.) is wisely built to facilitate expression and good aural development (not just physical comfort). I am not an expert in the Taubman method, and I assume/hope they do something similar. Still, from watching several videos by Edna Golandsky (and other Taubman teachers) I noticed that they don't work on sound quality (or expressive development) as much as we (Russian-trained teachers) do. In many of their videos, the quality of the sound is a bit harsh, and technique is discussed as a separate element of piano playing. So technical development (including their 'iconic' forearm rotation) seems to be used for the sole purpose of physical comfort and injury-free playing (but I might be wrong about this). The Taubman method definitely works when it comes to injury prevention - this I know for sure. The Russian method (which is my area of expertise) is BOTH healthy and has an enormous expressive potential :).
@@pianocareer Thank you for your considered and clear reply. You have helped me decide which method to follow - and it is your method, and the Russian Piano School. Your comment above "...it is ergonomic, comfortable and brilliant - but it also allows us to create a beautiful, rich, noble piano tone" tipped the balance strongly towards your teaching - I will be signing up later today. Thank you.
@@andyfaden Thank you very much! Welcome to our community - and I hope you enjoy every step of the way! ;)
Excellent video and very informative. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful! :)
You are so great
And amazing!!!
love your playing and you class !!!! thank you !!!
Thank you so much, Iván! ;)
Thank you for the great tips...please could you help my nearly 6 years old child..who started the journey of piano before the lockdown ....left hands are tight and left shoulder tight....with only the finger movement and please recommend one good textbook for my child...... we based in Southampton, England.both so frustrated evryday practicsing relaxing the arms and hands....while collapsing fingers....but actually before playing the piano should practise and understand the piano works and relaxing arms and but after knowing all the theory...how to improve it practically
Hi Jia! You are describing the usual consequences of the incorrect 'finger-only' approach (which is heavily focused on theory and reading, while completely ignoring healthy technique and expression). Your child is not alone - sadly, most beginners these days struggle with the same issues. Since your child is so young, my recommendation is to take lessons from a very experienced Russian-trained teacher (in person or via video chat). A method book is not enough: books can only tell you WHAT to play, not HOW to play it. Only a teacher can show you that. If you cannot find anyone at the moment, you can take a look at my Video Course for Beginners (which is based on the professional Russian system and the Nikolaev method book). However, since this is an online course, there are several very important things to keep in mind before following it with a young child - they are explained in my answer to question No. 39 from our FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). You can also take a look at answer No. 17, where I describe the Course for Beginners - and answer No. 20 (about our feedback project). Good luck! ;)
10 thumbs up! you are an amazing teacher. !
Wow, thank you! :)
Thank you sweetness 🎉