Mental Tensions When Playing Piano

This exercise requires several minutes of concentration, demanding total stillness of body with only mental directives at work. It is recommended to do it in front of the mirror so you can observe the subtle changes in your posture including the achievement of perfect alignment of head, back and the whole body.

Stand at ease with feet slightly apart. Concentrate attention on the spine, commanding it to lengthen. However, not through movement but mental directive. By now, you should experience the sensation of the head being lifted gently and placed on the last vertebrae, bringing head, neck and body into perfect alignment. It should correct any imbalance in you posture

Exhale very slowly whispering “haaaaaaaa” as long as possible. Be aware of shoulders lowering, a state of relaxation in the diaphragm area (the solar plexus where we all experience fear and emotion), the arms getting longer and heavier, with great deal of arm weight flowing into the hands.

Concentrate attention on knees and ankles: imagine them very supple and flexible. You should experience the strange sensation of lightness as if the body is floating. Such state is the perfect state of balance of the body, totally liberated of any tensions.

This piano lesson was written by our piano teacher Marina Petrov. To take lessons with her please go to her website at www.MyPianoLessons.co.uk