PRACTICE TIPS #13: Overcoming Tension, Part 1

[Brent Hugh <bhugh@griffon.mwsc.edu>]

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PRACTICE TIPS #13: Overcoming Tension, Part 1

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In some of our lessons this week, this question came up:  How do you stop 

yourself from getting more and more tight and tense as you practice?



First of all, you should realize that your end goal is to finish your 

practice period feel just as free, open, relaxed, and fresh as when you 

started.  If, at the end of your practicing, you feel tight, tense, or sore 

in the arms, shoulders, neck, upper or lower back, legs, feet, or anywhere 

else, it is most likely because you have a series of unconscious habits 

that cause muscles in these areas to tighten and "freeze" unnecessarily 

while you are practicing and playing.  Your piano technique and general use 

of your body are not as free, natural, and open as they could be.



Coming to a knowledge of how to use your body in the most free, natural, 

and coordinated way is a lifelong project--one all pianists must be engaged 

in, but also one that is far beyond the scope of a few email messages.



Nevertheless, here is the first in a series of tips for overcoming tension 

in your practice (further ideas will follow in later issues of PRACTICE TIPS):





Tip #1: Take many micro-, mini-, and macro-breaks in your practice.  Build 

small pauses and rests into your practice routine (practicing in sections 

is good for this reason, among others).  Specifically take time to move and 

stretch every 5 minutes.  Every 15 minutes, stand up, move around and 

stretch.  After 30 minutes of practice, get up and take a walk for, say, 10 

minutes.  (A study of computer operators with severe repetitive stress 

injuries found an astounding rate of recovery when workers followed a 

routine of typing for 30 minutes, then exercising on a treadmill for 10 

minutes.)



Using a timer while practicing is especially helpful in reminding yourself 

to take micro-breaks.  You can just watch the minutes on the timer to know 

when your micro-breaks should happen, but if you are prone to get too 

involved with your practicing and skip your micro-breaks, you can set the 

timer to countdown and beep every 5 or 15 minutes.  For further 

encouragement, set the timer to beep in 5 minutes and then put it across 

the room.



Following this kind of micro-, mini-, macro-break regimen is particularly 

important if you have a history of tension build-up or pain while 

practicing.  You must stop the tension from building up LONG before it 

turns into pain.  So observe yourself while practicing, and as soon you 

feel tightness, tension, tiredness, or that heavy, unresponsive feeling in 

your muscles, take a micro-break and rest, relax, and stretch.



Practicing this way will not only help you avoid hand, arm, and back 

problems, but also teach you to play in a more natural and musical way.



Happy Practicing!



--Brent



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PRACTICE TIPS is by pianist, teacher, composer, and internet nerd

Brent Hugh.  Brent knows about practicing mostly because he *does*

it, and in fact is toddling off to do some of it just about now . . .



Thanks to the many people who have written to say PRACTICE TIPS has

been helpful.  I always like to hear what you think of these

ideas and how they worked for you!



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