Relationship Between Physical and Musical Concerns Among Pianists

In the realm of performing arts, physical movements are crucial for the embodiment of artistic expression while concurrently preventing the development of injuries. It has been widely recognized that playing-related physical injuries are prevalent among musicians, underscoring the pivotal role of physical education in preventing such injuries. However, it remains unknown to what extent pianists prioritize physical considerations in the pursuit of achieving ideal musical expression. Here we attempted to answer a research question of whether pianists place significance on physical aspects of piano performance for achieving ideal musical expression. We conducted a questionnaire-based study in Japan, collecting responses from a cohort of 100 Japanese pianists who had received professional education in piano performance at music conservatories and from professional pianists over years. Among the ten issues encompassing physical, perceptual, cognitive, and aesthetic dimensions that gathered the highest priority among the respondents, six pertained to physical concerns. These included the reduction of superfluous muscular tension and motions degrading music performance, and enhancement of articulation and legato techniques. A chi-squared test rejected independence between the number of respondents who prioritized resolving physical issues and those who prioritized resolving musical issues, which indicates a relationship between physical and musical considerations. Younger pianists, particularly those in their teens and twenties, exhibited significantly higher awareness of physical concerns of piano performance. These results offer compelling evidence of the critical need for establishing physical education curriculum in the artistic development of pianists, which is particularly pronounced in the early stage of their career.