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Quick reminder you could beat me up irl before I start publishing some polarizing stuff.
Playing piano should not cause tension in the forearm. It is the weight of your arm dropping onto the keys that presses them down, not a push from your muscles. (Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHFG-HmHf4s ) Keep the hand rounded as it falls so that the weight of the arm can be transferred into the keys. (Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s4V98-lElk ).
You might have to vary it a little for it to be the most comfortable for you. In general, the less tension or stress on any part of the body (i.e.: fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder, etc.), the better.
Thank you for the input, letslearntogether. My playing posture certainly needs work (it used to be even worse) and I confess myself a recovering hyper-purist who tries not to use internet info too much, which has caused me more harm than good in the past. These videos will certainly be useful.
HOWEVER, I think there's a miscommunication. The kind of pain I was feeling wasn't the strain/tendonitis/carpal tunnel kind. It was the kind you feel the day after a good workout. It's hard to communicate exactly what I mean but I always had very thin wrists and forearms which are most likely the result of underdeveloped musculature.
In my case, the strain type of pain would always manifest itself on my fingers and back of my hand. Can you believe I "mastered" Hanon's first exercises and only realized one plays with their fingers resting on top of the keys after watching a video of someone doing it on youtube?
...All this talk about muscle strain is making me paranoid!
Yes, I figured that you already knew. I just wanted to put it out there in case anyone was curious. I too have a lack of forearm musculature. I think there is hope for us both though...I had once read that Listz was a sickly young man, but could still play piano for hours because he learned how to thoroughly relax his body as he played.
...Haha! I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm sure you'll be fine.