Abstract:
As piano teachers we all come across students who have varying degrees of discomfort while playing. Pedagogically it is possible to notice and correct pianistic habits which may be causing pain. Less obvious however, are the painless irregularities which can emerge in a technique and which may lead to future pianistic problems such as focal dystonia, a devastating neurological condition that usually ends a performing career. This paper aims to increase awareness of this condition and to suggest ways in which teachers can assist in its prevention.