Wrists hurt

[princessmoose]

Everytime I try to play Maple Leaf Rag, my wrists really hurt. They don't when I play other pieces unless I'm tired and been playing a while.

What is wrong?

[SuzyMac]

Are you tense or holding your hands or arms differently?

It may be a combination of the two

Is one worse than the other? Can you play one hand at a time without the single wrist hurting? If you can, then try (I know it's tricky!) to look at what you do different playing one hand, compared with both hands. If it's the same even with one hand resting, it's probably a positional/tension thing.

[Steve Hopwood]

As Dr Suzy says, try not to get tense - this will help.

Even if you were to be completely relaxed (highly unlikely) the rags take considerable stamina. Your hands are always stretching and moving so quickly. This will make the muscles ache.

You build up the stamina in the muscles by playing until they ache, then giving them a good rest (or playing something different) then playing the piece again until you ache. Stop each time they start to ache as suffering actual pain is not a requirement for piano playing ;D

Steve

[SuzyMac]

On the subject of 'playing isn't meant to hurt':
I play Mendelssohn's Song without Words (duetto). I love it, but in the last few weeks I get about 3/4 of the way through and my hand aches - only the right hand, only on the back, and only on the 4th and 5th finger side.

I can't imagine I'm tense playing it, nor have I changed the way I approach it. It never used to hurt! I presumed I was out of practice, but I am now back in practice and things are the same.

I'm aware I have silly joints, and that this is probably something to do with that; but I'm interested in what there is out there to strengthen (if that's what it needs) the hand muscles.

[princessmoose]

It's more my left hand that hurts. I probably tense up trying to play those flying leaps everywhere.

I hate leaps.