As I continue evaluating 2025 as it comes to a close, I would like to thank my readers for visiting my website. I would also like to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. This will be the last post of the year, as I will spend much of my time reflecting, rethinking, and realigning my goals for the upcoming year, as I do every year at the end of December.
One topic that came to mind over the past few months is the importance of relaxation while playing an instrument. I have mentioned many times in previous posts to check for undue tension in the body and to make sure that we remain relaxed while playing. However, it is worthwhile to explore this topic further and delve into questions that arise when we think about relaxation.
What does it mean to be relaxed, and what is it that we need to do in order to accomplish just that? What role does relaxation play in music-making in general? How do we relax, and what consequences might we face when tension builds in our bodies?
Relaxation, in basic terms, is the absence of tension in the muscles of the body. Of course, we need some tension to a degree to hold a bow or place our left hand on the fingerboard, for example. We can’t be completely without tension, or we'll be like Jell-O, accomplishing nothing. However, in a broader sense, relaxation begins in the mind. When we are calm and grounded and feel safe in our environment, we are more likely to transfer that to our bodies.
We are all prone to acquiring unnecessary tension while playing. Some of us more than others. If a player has acquired good playing habits from the very beginning of learning to play their instrument, chances are they can carry that throughout their playing careers. Is it possible to acquire bad habits in the process? The short answer to that is yes, if one is not careful. Therefore, it is always good to observe oneself and make sure that everything is kept in check.
How about the players who didn't have a good start, and they even brought their tension issues to the music lessons? I have seen many students who came for their first lessons already carrying great tension in their bodies. We had to work together in the unwinding process, both mentally and physically, so they could acquire skills such as holding the bow and working with their left hands. Therefore, if we are not naturally relaxed and, for whatever reason, we have picked up tension beforehand or along the way as we play, we need to unlearn that, which, in itself, is a process that takes time to come to a place of comfort.
What happens when we are not relaxed while playing? The result is most audible in the tone quality the player produces. The rest of the elements that make a piece great or pleasant to hear will follow one after the other, such as phrasing, rhythm, tempo, and solid intonation. This makes it even more difficult for the person to focus on their sound, leading to frustration; in the end, nothing seems to work.
A conscious decision to relax the mind and direct it where needed in the body can drastically improve things. Again, if a person had been playing with tension for some time, they would need to allow themselves a significant amount of time to undo that tension first, so they can concentrate on playing in a relaxed manner. So, patience is key.
Some steps we can take to redirect our energy in a relaxed manner are to mentally prepare before even holding our instruments.
If we have acquired some tension due to circumstances and become aware of it, it is important to go back to basics. That means instead of working on our sonata that morning, we can simply pick a simple etude and observe our movements as we play. As we do that, we must become aware of our hands and what they are doing. Working in front of a mirror can be helpful as we proceed. After we identify where the tension has built up or its source, we can direct our mind to order that area of the body to let go. One helpful way would be to think about the minimum tension we would need to acquire the sound we desire.
Another crucial factor is to observe ourselves and our behaviors as we go about our lives. For instance, how we hold a spoon, a pencil, or even a steering wheel. If we recognize that we perform these activities with great tension, this information can help us let go of unwarranted effort while playing.
On that note, I wish my readers happy, relaxed, and satisfying practice hours for the rest of 2025 and look forward to the new year fast approaching.
Do you have tension issues? How do you deal with them? Please share with us in the comments below.
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