 This near-counterintuitive technique was considered difficult or even painful by some pianists.Madame Iturbi, as she was fondly called by her students, would sit closely to the piano bench, with her fingers squeezing lightly on the forearm of the pianist, so she could detect any tension in the arm and correct it when needed.This process could in itself bring on tension since Madame Iturbi's reactions could be quite dramatic and startling.