| It is not uncommon for professional, or serious, regular | | | | His style has enabled him to become a better teacher, |
| pianists to experience various hand injuries over the | | | | and his crowning achievement through this process |
| course of their piano playing days. This is particularly | | | | was that he not only was able to resume his playing, |
| problematic for people who may have small hands, | | | | but succeeded in helping others play better, with less |
| and who play complex works, such as the | | | | incidence of injury as well. |
| Rachmaninov Concerto Number 3, and so on. | | | | The Bowman method encompasses the strengthening |
| However, this problem is certainly not confined to only | | | | of the fingers, as well as an overall approach to |
| classical pianists, or even professionals. These various | | | | muscle coordination. Far too many people start to play |
| injuries can affect just about any pianist, casual or | | | | the piano a certain way, and find that, over the years, |
| professional, from time to time. | | | | their discomfort increases, due to the method of |
| The most typical injuries include tendonitis, and wrist | | | | playing that creates tension and stress in the joints as |
| strain, mostly as a result of either not having sufficient | | | | well as fingers. |
| strength built up in their fingers and hands, as well as | | | | One aspect of the method is about sitting in the right |
| other playing issues such as correct position at the | | | | place, with reference to the notes being played. As an |
| piano. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a | | | | example, the hips need to be loose, in that for certain |
| common list of problems, as I have mentioned earlier. | | | | parts of the score, the pianist will need to sit right, or |
| For some piano players, the thought may even have | | | | site left, and even sit back, to allow the wrists to |
| crossed their mind to give up playing, due to the | | | | become lower then the keys. By moving the hips, so |
| repetitive injuries. Whilst this is an extreme option, there | | | | the pianist's body is in front of, and at right angles to |
| are other ways to reduce the injuries, and actually end | | | | the keyboard, will minimise the stress on the wrists as |
| up by playing better. One method that has been | | | | well as muscles of the wrist, and tendons. |
| proven by many students after being adopted is the | | | | It can often aid the pianist to make specific notes on |
| Bowman method. | | | | the music score, like sitting right, or sitting left, as this will |
| Professor Lionel Bowman was a distinguished piano | | | | aid the pianist to achieve an optimum posture and |
| player, at the peak of his career around his late thirties, | | | | comfort. This comfort will translate into relaxation, and |
| who had developed very great problems with | | | | thus, a better overall sound as well as reduced injuries. |
| tendonitis. After having to actually stop playing for a | | | | This technique needs to be practiced, and actually, it |
| number of months, while his hand healed, he took the | | | | can be beneficial to start learning a new piece, rather |
| time to actually study the anatomy of the hand and | | | | than trying to relearn an already known piece of music. |
| arm, and created his own method of playing the piano. | | | | The best proof is in the action, and seeing for yourself. |