Matt Burk Music Studio is concerned with more than just teaching notes and rhythms during piano lessons in Frisco, TX; we also care about students’ health during music study, especially on an instrument as physical as the piano. A famous teacher named Dorothy Taubman developed an approach to the piano that is meant to avoid common injuries and sources of pain, like carpal tunnel and tendonitis, just to name a couple. With the proper approach and technique, you can play the piano for an entire lifetime without pain, and even if you have developed some sort of pain or tension at the piano, it’s not too late to get rid of it. Here are 3 basic Taubman-influenced tenets of tension-free playing.

Posture

It’s one of the most basic things you learn during any music lesson, but it is fundamental to almost every type of music-making. When seated at the piano, be sure you are standing from the waist up and have your feet placed naturally beneath you (unless you are pedaling, of course). In other words, you should be able to easily stand up directly from the way you are seated. While playing, pitch forward ever so slightly from the hips, so that you are partially balanced by the weight of your fingers on the keys. You should always sit on the front half of the bench.

Neck, Shoulder, and Arm Relaxation

When you take piano lessons in Frisco TX, there are a few steps to consider in order to stay relaxed through the neck, shoulders, and arms.

  • Stand next to the bench with your arms dangling loosely at your sides and roll your head around a few times to loosen the neck, then take a few deep breaths.
  • Next, roll your shoulders around before rolling them down and back. When rolled back, let them fall naturally to where they belong.
  • Your neck and shoulders should now be relaxed. With correct posture, lower yourself onto the piano bench.
  • While sitting, let your arms continue to dangle by your legs--notice how your hands are naturally curved as they hang at your sides. This is the correct hand position while playing the piano.
  • Always avoid clenched forearm, tricep, bicep, or shoulder muscles while playing.

Piano Lessons in Frisco, TX: Rotating Playing Technique

One cause of injury to pianists is reaching for notes without using the proper technique. Rather than stretching from one note to the next, use a technique called “wrist rotation.”

To get the idea, imagine that a piece of music calls for you to reach across an octave from C to C. The problem is that your hand can’t reach an octave without extreme stretching or tension, and maybe you can’t reach it at all. In this case, play the first C with the thumb, then use a rolling motion to “rotate” over to the second C with the little finger as the thumb comes up off the lower C. You should be able to complete the “rotation” with barely any movement in your arm or shoulders.

When you look for piano lessons in Frisco, TX, look for a studio that will teach the basics of healthy playing; avoid laying the piano with tension, which leads to pain and injury that make everyday life difficult. Call Matt Burk Music Studio at (469) 353-6100 to ask about expert piano lessons today.

Piano Lessons Frisco TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100