Researchers analyse piano playing using motion capture

Researchers will be able to scrutinise individual pianist’s playing technique through the use of a kinematic measurement technique called HAWK (Hand and Wrist Kinematics), which was originally designed to assess the effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation techniques.

The team hopes to gain insight into the posture of pianists’ hands on the keys and the specific movements they use in order to achieve their sound.

Prof David Owen Norris, world-renowned pianist and music professor at Southampton University, told The Engineer: ‘The first thing that interested me was the idea of linking the flexibility of the wrist to the quality of the sound.’  

The research will also seek to identify the factors that contribute towards hand and wrist injuries, such as repetitive strain injury — a common problem for pianists.

Furthermore, the results could help teach students specific movements that a piano teacher finds it difficult to explain or demonstrate due to the speed at which the piece needs to be played.