{"id":72,"date":"2010-07-13T01:18:32","date_gmt":"2010-07-13T08:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/doctorkeys.com\/piano-blog\/?p=72"},"modified":"2010-07-13T01:18:32","modified_gmt":"2010-07-13T08:18:32","slug":"arm-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doctorkeys.com\/newblog\/2010\/07\/arm-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"Deep Basic #2: Let gravity do the work."},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the second in a series of posts on the core essentials of piano playing.<\/em><\/p>\n

In a nutshell, technique refers to how you use your body to get the sounds you want from the piano. And the starting place for good technique is relaxation.<\/p>\n

Now if you\u2019re wondering how you can relax while doing something as complicated as playing the piano, the answer is simple: let the weight of your arm do the work. Don\u2019t use your muscles to push keys down\u2014let gravity do it for you.<\/p>\n

Releasing arm weight into the keys:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Keeps you pain- and injury-free.
\n\u2022 Helps you control dynamics (loudness and softness).
\n\u2022 Brings more of your body into play, thus improving rhythm and flow.<\/p>\n

Countless skills and insights work together to produce good piano technique. But none of them will help much if you\u2019re tense and working harder than you need to.<\/p>\n

Let gravity do the work.<\/p>\n

———–<\/p>\n

(I briefly show you how to use arm weight in the following videos. Look for a more detailed lesson in the future:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Chord Inversion Exercise<\/a> at the 00:26 point.
\n\u2022 A 3-Chord Accompaniment, Step by Step.<\/a> at the 01:38 point.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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