20/02/2024
One of my passions as a piano teacher is helping my students to develop a solid technique from their earliest lessons. I describe technique as the way we move at the piano (our whole body, arms, and hands) in order to create the sounds we want. Good technique not only supports us in playing to the best of our abilities, but it also ensures that we play injury-free.
I have learnt that playing-related discomfort and injury is far more common than one might imagine, for both professional and amateur pianists of all levels. And that knowledge of healthy movement at the piano, and how to teach or learn it, is not always readily available to pianists, piano teachers, or piano students. I wish it were!
Personally, I experienced injury at the piano as both a child and adult. I only realised with hindsight that my childhood injury stemmed from an underdeveloped technique. As an adult, I was lucky to have access to teachers who helped me to retrain my technique from the ground up, so that I could learn to apply healthy movement at the piano.
Now, as a teacher, I am dedicated to sharing the knowledge and skills I’ve learnt. Developing healthy technique takes time, patience, and reassurance, but the long-term results are worth the effort! Some of my students have come to me specifically to work on their piano technique. Here is a testimonial I received from the parent of one of my young students:
''Marissa has very patiently taught piano technique to my 14-year-old son. She has been pedagogical, encouraging, and always positive. The communication between me as the guardian and Marissa has worked perfectly and I can warmly recommend her.'' - Sara S., Sweden
Whether my students are children or adult beginners, it is a delight to help them discover how they can move with greater ease at the piano. My wish is to see more pianists not only avoid playing-related injuries, but develop a technique that will support them through a lifetime of enjoyment at the piano! ❤
