The Story of 'Relaxation', the Panacea for Piano

Hello!

Today, I want to talk about a fundamental technique that I deeply realize is "truly important..." every time I interact with my students in daily lessons, and for everyone.

That is, 'relaxation'.

When playing the piano, the struggles truly seem endless, don't they?

• "I just can't play at a fast tempo."

• "I can't produce a rich, full, loud sound."

• "There are always parts that are difficult to play, where I stumble."

• "I thought I pressed the key, but no sound came out."

• "Conversely, the sound becomes harsh and unpleasant."

These are all obstacles that anyone who plays the piano will likely experience at some point. However, if you ask me, "If a problem arises, first suspect a lack of relaxation." If relaxation is properly achieved, most of these problems will naturally resolve, or if not fully resolved, they will certainly lead to significant improvement.

For me, and for anyone who has fully mastered it, relaxation is truly a 'panacea'.

Relaxation is like 'improving lifestyle habits'

The word 'relaxation' itself is very simple, but it's not something you can easily do just by being told, 'Okay, from tomorrow, play with less tension.'

I often compare relaxation to 'improving lifestyle habits'.

For example, to fundamentally improve your health, even if you're told, 'Starting today, change your diet, exercise, and go to bed early and wake up early,' your body won't drastically change in a single day, will it? Instead, it takes months of continued effort, resisting the temptations to sometimes eat unhealthy foods or stay up late, before it finally becomes a 'comfortable, normal habit' ingrained in your body.

Relaxation in piano playing is exactly the same. It requires considerable patience and diligent daily practice.

This is because simply 'completely letting go of tension' won't allow you to press down the piano keys. What's important is 'body control'. Knowing which support points to be aware of, where to release tension, and how to engage the necessary muscles (such as those in the fingers).

You need to accustom your body to the act of playing the piano while maintaining this exquisite state of control, until it becomes unconscious and natural.

The Difficulty of Conveying 'Sensation'

The biggest reason why mastering this relaxation is so difficult is that it is thoroughly a 'realm of individual sensation'. This is equally challenging whether it's an in-person lesson or an online lesson.

Even if I demonstrate, students cannot 100% understand 'how my body is supported and where it's relaxed' through sight alone. Conversely, I cannot directly feel the 'sensations' within a student's body. The only reliable source is the subjective sensation of what the student themselves is feeling right now.

Recently, during a lesson, a student grasped the sensation of relaxation—that 'Ah, this might be it!' moment—for the very first time. It was a truly joyful moment as an instructor.

However, this is also just the beginning of a long journey. Unfortunately, by the time they go home, even if they remember the wonderful sensation they grasped, they often forget how to reproduce it physically.

Searching for that sensation within one's body again and again, reproducing it, and finally making it one's 'normal state'—this inevitably takes time.

Time spent away from the piano is precisely an opportunity for practice

Here's a valuable piece of advice for everyone. Actually, in the initial stages of practicing relaxation, "you don't need to sit at the piano at all."

We live in an age truly overflowing with information. Experts not only in the music world but also in sports and other fields are sharing very interesting insights on 'relaxation' and 'body control', aren't they? First, try starting by 'seeking out' your body's sensations in your daily life.

You can do this anywhere. Whether during a break at work, while eating a meal, or when you're in bed trying to fall asleep, it doesn't matter.

To master something, the state of 'always thinking about it' is indeed very important.

Several times a day, direct your attention to your body and sharpen your senses, asking yourself, 'Oh, are my shoulders tense right now?' or 'How can I relax from my core?'

Relaxation enriches your life as well

Mastering relaxation will, of course, improve your piano playing, but it actually comes with unexpected 'side effects'.

Recently, another student who had significantly improved their relaxation happily reported this: "Teacher, not only with piano, but also in my daily life, my shoulder stiffness and back pain have completely disappeared. I truly feel relaxed in my everyday life."

Yes, relaxation for piano playing releases unnecessary tension throughout your body and makes your daily life more comfortable. It's truly a win-win, isn't it?

This time, as a 'first step' into relaxation, I discussed its importance and mindset. Since this is a deep 'sensation' that is difficult to convey solely through audio or text, I plan to communicate it more concretely in various formats, such as courses and videos, in the future. Please look forward to it.

First, starting today, try to create 'a moment to take a breath and relax your body' in your daily life.

Now, have a wonderful piano life today.

Haruka Ogawa