5 Piano Teaching Habits That Can Cause Injuries скачать в хорошем качестве

5 Piano Teaching Habits That Can Cause Injuries

As piano teachers, we often focus so much on musical accuracy that we miss what the student’s body is doing at the keyboard and that can be a big mistake. Teaching piano with poor physical guidance can unintentionally lead to long-term tension, discomfort, or even injury in students. This video outlines 5 critical ways to protect your students from injuries, improve their body awareness, and build strong, healthy playing habits from day one. If you’ve ever told a student to sit up straight or hold your shoulders down, you’re not alone but those cues, although well-intentioned, can actually cause more harm than good. Protecting students from injuries starts with understanding how tension develops, and how subtle language, posture, and repeated habits can impact their bodies over time. Here are the top 5 teaching corrections covered in this video 1. Don’t tell students to sit up straight. While it may sound good, it often leads to rigid posture and over arched lower backs. Instead, encourage students to sit tall, which promotes a naturally supported spine without unnecessary tension. 2. Avoid instructing students to hold shoulders down. This specific language causes many young pianists to brace or freeze their shoulders. What seems like relaxation is actually a holding pattern that limits movement and can lead to strain. 3. Watch out for elbows flying out. Instructing students to hold elbows out or keeping them rigidly in position can cause arm and shoulder tension. Encourage natural positioning, where the arms hang and move freely in relation to the keys. 4. Over-curved fingers = overworked hands. Many teachers overemphasize curved fingers, which can lead to unnatural hand positions. Look instead for a neutral, naturally curved hand, free of tension. 5. Address increased tension during harder moments. If students stiffen up when trying to get something right, that tension may become their habitual posture. Bringing awareness to these patterns is key to tension prevention and long-term freedom. The goal is not just good technique, it's sustainable, healthy piano playing for life. When students build body awareness from the start, they play with more ease, expression, and confidence and they’re far less likely to develop repetitive stress injuries or physical burnout. You’ll also learn why certain seemingly correct posture cues (like forcing shoulders down or locking elbows out) actually increase muscle tension, restrict freedom, and set the stage for injury. These outdated teaching habits often go unnoticed but they have a lasting effect. Teachers who prioritize tension prevention and natural alignment empower their students not only musically, but physically. Techniques inspired by methods like the Alexander Technique offer useful frameworks for this kind of integrated, injury-conscious teaching. Whether you’re a piano teacher, music educator, or a parent supporting your child’s musical journey, these tips will help you spot harmful patterns and correct them gently. Encouraging natural movement, neutral posture, and internal awareness will set your students up for success in music and beyond. Want to dive deeper? Join my Free Ride Masterclass https://www.helenaun.com/business-mas... where we go further into strategies for playing (and teaching) piano without anxiety, pain, or injuries. Hi, I'm Helen Aun! I'm a peak performance coach, Alexander Technique teacher, and business mentor for pianists and piano teachers. With over 25 years of experience as a professional pianist and educator, I help musicians play with confidence and ease, and build successful careers. What I Do: Founder of The Helen Aun Institute, dedicated to helping pianists thrive artistically and financially. Help pianists overcome performance anxiety and physical pain. Subscribe for tips on peak performance, injury prevention, and business growth tailored for pianists and piano teachers! 🎹🚀 #PianoPerformanceTips #AlexanderTechniqueForMusicians #PianoTeacherBusiness #MusicCareerDevelopment #PeakPerformanceCoaching #PianoInjuryPrevention #MusicBusinessStrategies #PianistMindset #PianoTeachingTips #PianoCareerGrowth #MusicianSuccessStories #pianoteaching #musicteacherlife #musiceducation #alexandertechnique #preventinjury #studenthealth #bodyawareness #tensionprevention #healthytechnique #naturalposture #pianopedagogy #pianocoach #musicianhealth #pianohabits #shorts