Beyond the Music

Until a pianist is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or experience repetitive motion related injuries, most pianists could not care less if their method of playing is unhealthy. Naturally gifted pianists often carry a distorted and complacent belief that their gift can sustain for life with improper piano technique.

Many pianists have been forced to give up their natural talent for music in later life simply because of improper piano techniques while young. Studies are showing that scales, arpeggios and technical exercises can damage the natural gift of piano playing when done without scientifically-based physical and practice approaches. Symptoms of uncoordinated movements at the piano and extremes of fatigue, pain, tension and insecurity can spoil actual performance even after long hours of near perfect rehearsals owing to harmful ways of playing the piano.

It is because there are no physicians in Cebu who cater to specific needs of musicians, no therapists who understand musical artists and no fitness trainers who can customize workouts for pianists and other musical performers, that many pianists end up suffering with pain or disease they don’t deserve or could have been prevented.

Mechanical gymnastics

To be a gifted pianist is to be endowed with a gift of touch. True a pianist must have fast reflexes in translating notes that are read with the mind to the sound on the keys. But while these mechanical gymnastics are important to develop agility and dexterity, what actually produces the music is the touch. Many pianists become mere mechanical gymnasts and fail to arouse and elicit the passion from audiences because they are unable to touch keys with the sound needed of the music.

Where piano playing is a physical activity, an effective method should lead to optimal results with minimal effort. Correct physical approach provides the potential for long hours of practice and performance without any harmful tension or pain. More than anything else, correct physical approach produces the quality of the resulting tone – a sound which possesses good projection, beautiful spectrum and rich in overtones.

The “singing tone” which many pianists hold dear is produced with a “soft landing,” pressing into the key beds and lowering the keys at various rates of speed from slow or various degrees of softness to fast or various degrees of loudness.

What causes harmful tension and flat sound in the touch of keys on the piano is when two groups of antagonistic muscles are engaged simultaneously, leading to stiff joints of the finger, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Looking at the anatomy of a performing pianist, it is actually the small muscles on the fingers that hits the “final attack” on the keys. But it is an attack that must be done with a soft landing.

Soulful renditions with the spine.

To create “soft landing” is to employ a technique called keyboard choreography. What happens is that in keyboard choreography posture is crucial — sit straight with firm shoulders pulled back and chest forward. In a sense soulful renditions begin with the spine. Having a good spine provides uninterrupted power and energy for a pianist. This also creates proper sense of balance at the piano.

The human mechanism of the torso, upper back, shoulders and top of the forearm come into a mechanical interplay of relaxation and control. This is to make the wrists act like a springboard and should not be forced down in collapsed position. The finger tip is the locus of activity, grabbing the key to create a full sound without harshness and then releasing the keys through wrist rotation.

Proper technique in piano playing comes with practice, technique and discipline. Mostly is it is discipline. Pianists need a regular dose of spine adjustment, massage therapy and workout to prepare for soulful and enduring performance. Problem is most pianists are trapped in their passions to discern beyond the music.

(Note: Since a child, Ms. Mercado has been and continues to be under the coaching and tutelage of piano teacher Mrs. Nena Montenegro of Lyric Music Studio. Ms. Mercado is with the music ministry of Bible Baptist Church Katipunan and performs only Major Classical Works and Classical Christian Music.)