This Is Why You Have Elbow Tension (And How To Get Rid Of It)

[@anggunnenohai3870]

Dear online piano teacher, I could not thank you more for your clear explanation about elbows’ positions. I pray for you and your family! Love from Indonesia! 🌻

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

I hope you were not adversely affected by the recent earthquake.

[@anggunnenohai3870]

@@DavidMiller-bp7et Thank you David. It's alright in my place, because I don't live in Java island anymore. Thank you for your thoughtful message. I hope you are alright and safe also. Be happy, David!🌻

[@andream6533]

Your videos are so helpful and eye opening! I don’t remember learning any of this back in high school piano class. Now I am more aware of my form ❤️

[@aliceloke2679]

Your technical video makes a lot of sense to me in another way. I am an adult learner and I mean real 'adult'. I am now 67 and started to seriously learn to play 2 years ago with a 61 keys casio keyboard (the spring type, if anyone can remember). All the while, I may have had 4 lessons with a teacher. Anyhow, I could never afford lessons. Instead I bought music books, got the discarded piano pieces of beginners, learn about theory and watch videos etc. I got hold of a used (good) piano and progressed. What I would like to point out, is that without all this formal training and technical mechanisms.... I unconsciously shifted my posture to play the notes or tried different fingerings to play and adjust. Do you think this instinctive adaptations are inherent to humans?

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

Big Craig supporter but there are some situations which require more discussion. This is a good basic lesson.

[@lizweekes8076]

Thanks Craig.🎉🎉

[@awakeref]

Thank you SO much!!

[@winsomewalstead2157]

Really like your shirt! So cool!

[@roadguide123]

No other channel addresses technical issues like yours does....while I appreciate those short videos...I wish you would do more lengthy ones...having said that...I would like to thank you for your work

[@aarnemark]

Thanks for the video. I think I have been playing with a lot of tension in my non dominant (left) elbow. I feel it in just about all the literature. I think maybe I am tense to compensate for a lack of independence in the hand. Not sure. I am working on a Chopin waltz, a movement from a Bach partita, a Mozart sonata movement. I struggle a lot with repeated chords and notes and trills. Hoping I can work through my tension issues more and RELEASE them.

[@almendratlilkouatl]

I don't get it at all, It seems that all the exercises and etudes that I am practicing need to be played in positions where I sometimes need my arm in the other side of the keyboard, even as I lean I get my angle in the "right" position only about 15% of the time, sometimes I have to extend my arms both sides and I literally can lean to the left and the right at the same time... I hate this video, it only gave me more questions snd anxiety, Idk what am I doing wrong.

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

Good comment. Needs more detailed and qualified discussion.

[@hurricane4912]

I understand what you mean but this video helped me a lot. I was having some elbow tension in Chopin etudes and I fixed it by rotating my wrists along with my elbows. In your case where the hands go in different directions I would try leaning a bit towards the piano so that your hands can reach further. The elbow movements still work as long as your elbow isn’t always outwards and keeps moving loosely and fluidly.