Healthy Piano Playing


Focal Dystonia in Pianists

Overview

Focal dystonia (also known as Task-specific dystonia or Musician's dystonia) is a distressing condition in which the hand experiences involuntary muscle spasm leading to abnormal movements. Typical symptoms in pianists are involuntary movements of the fingers or thumb (either curling under the hand or sticking up in the air) and tremor. This can occur in one or more fingers. It usually tends to affect more advanced players, professional or amateur.

Focal dystonia tends to be task-specific. In pianists it is likely to occur mainly, or even exclusively, when they play the piano. It may only manifest itself in certain types of passage work, such as scalic passages. Initially the symptoms may just appear as unevenness or lack of control, which may later lead to more obvious involuntary movement (however, if you have unevenness or lack of control, there are many other possible causes for this. Dystonia is rare, and it is extremely unlikely that you have the early stages of dystonia).

Sign in to view if you have purchased access to this content or see purchase options below.

Purchase options

This content is available as a separate, once-off purchase or as part of a subscription. Click "Buy" to purchase it or on "Subscribe" to get access to this content in addition to our growing library of over 300 articles for as little as £13.99 per month or £119.99 per year.

£45.00Buy More info Subscribe Back

View next...

Playing Double Notes at the Advanced Level

Some of the most difficult pieces in the piano literature involve double notes. This series explores how to develop the technical skills needed to play them at the advanced level. It provides detailed advice on how to practise scales, exercises and studies, along with some suggestions for studies you might... Read >>


Graham Fitch Technique

The Art of Pedalling

This series of videos provides a comprehensive treatise on the subject of pedalling, starting with a brief history of the sustaining pedal and a video on finger pedalling. This is then followed by an indepth look at various aspects of pedal technique and types of pedalling, including: direct, legato, fractional... Read >>


Graham Fitch Technique

ABRSM Grade 1 Scales & Broken Chords

Scale playing is an area of piano study that is often neglected in lessons and undertaken only half-heartedly in practice sessions. And yet scales and arpeggios can be approached creatively, and practised in a variety of different ways! This series of resources on scales and arpeggios begins with the current... Read >>


Graham Fitch Technique