• Store
  • Sign-up
  • Sign-in
Menu
Practising the Piano
  • Home
  • Resources
    • Multimedia eBook Series
    • Online Academy
    • Video Lessons
    • Annotated Study Editions
    • Repertoire Resources
    • Piano Technique Resources
    • Amateur Piano Groups & Clubs
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Online Events
    • London Piano Courses
    • Practice Clinics
    • Online Performance Workshops
  • Blog
      • Practising
      • Learning Pieces
      • Technique
      • Performing
      • Teaching
      • Archive
  • About Us
    • Help & Support
    • Contact us
HomeNewsAn Essential Guide to Healthy Piano Playing

An Essential Guide to Healthy Piano Playing

By Informance, 2020-01-16 Posted in: News, Technique

Piano playing is a deeply satisfying artistic activity, but it can also be very demanding physically on our arms and hands. Just as elite athletes understand and care for their bodies, so should pianists think carefully about their approach to playing and practising. A healthy piano technique not only avoids injury – it also helps to achieve greater freedom of expression, a more beautiful sound and quicker progress.

With the number of piano-related injuries on the rise and as a response to this growing problem, we have worked with leading expert in pianist injuries, Penelope Roskell to publish a new guide to preventing and recovering from injury for pianists and teachers. Combined with Penelope’s existing resources on Yoga, warm-ups and posture, the guide offers detailed information on each of the most common playing-related injuries with numerous video demonstrations of practical remedial exercises to aid recovery and prevent relapse.

Example video demonstrating an exercise from the Roskell Warm-up Sequence called “Empty Sleeves” (click here to view the full collection of articles and videos on the Online Academy)

The information contained within this guide is based on Penelope’s many years of experience in working with pianists with injuries. Although it will be useful to any pianist, it is especially beneficial for those experiencing fatigue, tension or pain and piano teachers who want to know more about helping their students keep healthy. The guide covers the following topics:

  • Healthy playing – Develop a healthy technique (and wise practise) methods for greater freedom of expression, improved sound quality and quicker progress
    • General advice on healthy and wise practising
    • Whole-body approach and sitting posture
    • Warm-up sequence
  • Preventing and recovering from injury – Learn how to look after your arms and hands to avoid problems in future and general advice on recovering from injury
  • Common pianist injuries
    • How to identify common injuries like RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis
    • General tips and practical remedial exercises for recovery
    • Technical retraining to prevent a relapse, including unique concepts and approaches such as the parachute touch, soft wrist, the splay and the singing finger touch
Example video demonstrating healthy alignment to avoid twisting of the wrist (click here to view the full collection of articles and videos on the Online Academy)

The Healthy Piano Playing guide is available for once-off purchase from our store here for £9.99 or with an Online Academy subscription. Please click here to find out more about the Online Academy or click here to subscribe (click here to view the guide if you already have a subscription).

Further reading & resources

  • Healthy Piano Playing – Click here to view on the Online Academy.
  • The Art of Piano Fingering – Click here to purchase as an eBook from our store or click here to view on the Online Academy.
  • Yoga for Musicians – Click here to purchase as a stand-alone online product from our store or click here to view on the Online Academy.
  • The Complete Pianist: from healthy technique to natural artistry – Penelope’s latest book will be available from 20th February 2020. Click here to sign-up to her mailing list for updates and purchase details. 
Tags: healthy playinghealthy practisinginjurypianist injurieswarm-up sequenceyoga

Related Posts

On Double Notes (Part Two)

On Double Notes (Part Two)

By Graham Fitch, 2011-09-06
Posted in: Practising, Teaching

This post deals with the "how" of double notes. Because double notes appear to be very finger-based, making demands on the weaker fingers on the outside of the hand, they should be practised with care and certainly not for hours on end! Firstly, then,  some advice on INJURY PREVENTION: Avoid…

Read More

Tags: armbeethovenChopindouble notesfingeringflexibilityinjuryjackhammer armMendelssohnMoszkowskitouch
On Double Notes (Part Two)
It’s All in the Wrist

It’s All in the Wrist

By Informance, 2020-10-29
Posted in: Practising

Our blog for this week features a guest post by renowned pedagogue, author and pianist William Westney. William is also our most recent addition to the Online Academy with his first contribution being a video lecture on re-thinking warming up. In this post, he shares a few thoughts arising from…

Read More

Tags: The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Selfwarm-up sequenceWilliam Westney
It’s All in the Wrist
On Passagework

On Passagework

By Graham Fitch, 2011-11-27
Posted in: Practising

There are innumerable examples in the piano repertoire of what is commonly known as "passagework", a string of fast notes that lasts either a few bars, a whole section, or an entire piece. The function of this passagework may be decoratively melodic (rather like the singer's coloratura), but is most…

Read More

Tags: accentadele marcusChopineffortfingersinjurymaria curciopassageworkpiano pedagogypracticing the pianopractising the pianorhythmteachingtempotension
On Passagework

Previous Post

Edvard Grieg’s Arietta

Next Post

Advanced Sight-Reading Curriculum Launched!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

Sign-up To Our Mailing List!

Sign-up to our email newsletter for free resources, news updates and special offers!

TOPICS

  • Practising
  • Learning Pieces
  • Technique
  • Performing
  • Teaching

LINKS

  • Online Academy
  • Informance
  • Help & Support
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Practising the Piano All Rights Reserved

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Privacy Policy
  • T&Cs
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.OkMore Information