Topic by scherbakov.al

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Topic: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

In some book it is indicated that when playing the pianissimo, the pianist applies an effort on the key equal to 90-100 grams. (?) I looked at the statistics in the archive for the saved midi files using Pianoteq. In an hour and a half of playing, I played about 30,000 notes. (maybe it was Liszt's rhapsody ..oh no, - Prokofiev's sonata for flute and fp). It turns out that during this time the pianist moves a weight equal to 3000 kg. This is very hard physical labor! Very! I demand to raise the salary of pianists 2000 times!

Last edited by scherbakov.al (19-10-2020 22:16)

Reply by Qexl

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Ah, pianists carry a heavy burden! Well, poke rhythmically at this burden

Such an interesting idea. Mind and body do genuinely work much harder than appreciated.

I suspect also significant energy is used up, not just in the weight of cumulative strikes but in related kinetic actions, raising up hand/arms for striking actions against gravity and other body movements.

The horror of health labels attached to music tho, in Kilojoules.

"My doctor took me off Satie and prescribed Prokofiev, increased from 2 to 3 movements a day - feel it's working - lost 5kg already"

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Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Pianists all over the world, unite ! :-)

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Reply by LTECpiano

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Qexl wrote:

Ah, pianists carry a heavy burden! Well, poke rhythmically at this burden

Such an interesting idea. Mind and body do genuinely work much harder than appreciated.

I suspect also significant energy is used up, not just in the weight of cumulative strikes but in related kinetic actions, raising up hand/arms for striking actions against gravity and other body movements.

The horror of health labels attached to music tho, in Kilojoules.

"My doctor took me off Satie and prescribed Prokofiev, increased from 2 to 3 movements a day - feel it's working - lost 5kg already"

Priceless humor!!

Lanny

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Reply by Qexl

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

I appreciate charm, whit and grace, which emanates from each of you.

Nice always when we can have a smile and warm moment on this special forum

scherbakov.al always has such interesting thoughts - you are each extraordinarily precious persons in my world. Cheers!

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Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Qexl wrote:

Ah, pianists carry a heavy burden! Well, poke rhythmically at this burden

Such an interesting idea. Mind and body do genuinely work much harder than appreciated.

I suspect also significant energy is used up, not just in the weight of cumulative strikes but in related kinetic actions, raising up hand/arms for striking actions against gravity and other body movements.

The horror of health labels attached to music tho, in Kilojoules.

"My doctor took me off Satie and prescribed Prokofiev, increased from 2 to 3 movements a day - feel it's working - lost 5kg already"

Well, I can’t play pianissimo, I have a very heavy playing style, someone said don’t play, the piano gets out of tune! Now I have Ptq and still playing heavy, but piano is not out of tune, but my keyboard broke, d and some other key didn’t give sound. Had to buy a new keyboard some weeks ago. With my playingstyle I don’t want to think about what I move a weight equal to….looking only at the last three years, they have been tough - lost over 10kg 

Reply by Qexl

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Hey Pianoteqenthusiast, you indeed are one of the hardest working pianists on the forum by the sound of it. You're prolific recording works here alone are amazing.

I'm surprised you only lost 10kg

Keep healthy - glad you got a new keyboard BTW.. that's always a good day.

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Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Qexl wrote:

Hey Pianoteqenthusiast, you indeed are one of the hardest working pianists on the forum by the sound of it. You're prolific recording works here alone are amazing.

I'm surprised you only lost 10kg

Keep healthy - glad you got a new keyboard BTW.. that's always a good day.


Hello Qexl! Thank you for your kind words. Yes, it’s so nice always when we can have a smile and warm moment on this special forum. I’m talking about my body weight   I lost 10kg in 3 years by banging hard on my keyboard every day I think that is not ”only” I don’t need to go to a gym. I don’t stick to a diet. For me this way to lose weight is working. I eat as usual every day. Only negative is that one have to buy a new keyboard sometimes And now when I have to play both ptq and orgtq I’m still losing weight, so I can without worries eat as much as I want
But, having said that, I would like to point out that there's no single "fit-for-all" program for weight loss. Playing (banging ptq and orgtq hard every day is my way. Well, why did I write all this? I think it was scherbakov.al mentioned pianissimo, and I can’t play pianissimo

Reply by Qexl

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:

I lost 10kg in 3 years by banging hard on my keyboard every day

Ah, I believe you deserve at least a 3000 times raise!

Many don't ordinarily think of "playing" piano to be work.. but scherbakov.al might be onto a really cool simple way to quantify and say to someone who's all about glorifying only the physical aspect of human endeavors:

"Well, I work with my bare hands, moving the world, at a rate of 2 tons per hour".

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Reply by Beto-Music

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

I think Axel Zwingenberger it's the worldwide champion of pianokeys weightlifting :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ9kJ7-hiRY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAPwAg944cg


The man is big, and a have a "heavy hand style' of boogie woogie.


Sure you can lost a lot weight by playing piano. It helps if you want to play a Bosendorfer imperial, and go by walk to the the music conservatory 9 km away from your home every day.


;-)

Last edited by Beto-Music (21-10-2020 03:12)

Reply by Qexl

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

You may be right Beto.  Get Guinness Book of Records on the phone

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Reply by patsy3523

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

It's fascinating to think about the physical demands that pianists endure during long hours of playing. While I can't confirm the exact weight a pianist presses with each key, it's true that playing the piano requires a certain level of strength and control.

Reply by SalvadorSaunders

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

The number of notes you mentioned, around 30,000 in an hour and a half, is quite impressive! It's definitely a testament to the dedication and endurance of pianists. However, it's important to remember that the weight exerted on the keys might vary depending on the playing style, dynamics, and individual technique.

Reply by SalvadorSaunders

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Re: How much weight does a pianist press over many hours of playing?

SalvadorSaunders wrote:

The number of notes you mentioned, around 30,000 in an hour and a half, is quite impressive! It's definitely a testament to the dedication and endurance of pianists. However, it's important to remember that the weight exerted on the keys might vary depending on the playing style, dynamics, and individual technique.

On a slightly different note, Reverse Health, which is a women's only 12-week weight loss program focuses on female physiology to avoid metabolic rate dropping and gaining weight. It could be beneficial for those interested in a holistic approach to weight management.