I posted a recording of the Alfred Level 1 Entertainer in the Member Recordings area and a conversation started about relaxation, so I started this thread for that, in case anyone would like to join the conversation. I've only been studying for a year, and I want to invite people who know more about this stuff than I do to weigh in on relaxation and pain-free piano technique.
Here's what I've been through in the past year:
When I first started studying with Alfred's All-In-One Level 1 method book, I overdid it and caused myself some pain. I went looking for a teacher to help me address whatever I was doing to cause myself pain, and here's what happened:
Teacher 1: Technique is simple. Adjust the bench. Curl your fingers. If you have pain, see a doctor. (One lesson.)
Teacher 2: I wasn't trained in that, but I'll watch some YouTube videos of "Russian" technique and tell you what they say to do, but you'll have to do that stuff at home because I'm not interested. (3 Lessons. We didn't click.)
Teacher 3: The only way to address pain is by limiting your daily practice to 20 minutes. (Zero lessons.)
Teacher 4: Technique? Sure. We can do Hanon if you want, but I'd rather teach you to play by ear ... (Zero lessons.)
Teacher 5: Focus on relaxing and feeling comfortable in your lesson. I'll tell you when you look tense. (My current teacher. Four lessons so far. I love her.)
My current teacher is super cool, but businesslike and doesn't want to chat away our 30 minutes. I sit. I play my pieces. She points out opportunities for improvement and tells me when I look tense. I think she will actually cover stuff like rotation in her own time, and it's not a good idea for me to rush her. She has her ways.
So I'm still very new, but I have spent some time figuring out how to relax, and how not to cause myself pain, because I love playing, and I want to practice 2-3 hours a day, and nobody would help me. But please don't take anything I say as advice because it isn't. If you want to post some advice, feel free!
So I watch a lot of videos, read a lot of books, and work on relaxation and physical technique on my own. It's not ideal! But guess what? My forearms no longer burn. My hands and wrists no longer hurt. So I'm thinking I've been doing ok bumbling along on my own until I get to a high enough level where either my teacher will start talking rotation and lateral movement and stuff, or I'll look for Teacher 6 in Boston for triple the fee.
I'm pretty sure I tried to start this conversation before both at PW and here, so maybe nobody is interested still. But if you are, please jump in and share resources, if you will.
This is The Complete Pianist by Penelope Roskell. This is a 500+ page tome, basically a piano Bible. I would not start here, but I had this book to hand, so here it is. It has every topic covering what the body should optimally do while playing (to play beautifully and stay healthy).