Weight lifting?

[alteredchords]

Hey everyone...I started learning piano about a year ago and I just started getting into weight lifting. I am concerned that it may deminish my ability to play. Does anyone know what the effects are of weight lifting on your hands and if it would interfear with my playing, and if so...how much of an effect will it have? thanks!

[allchopin]

Im not sure about the specific effects, but I dont see why it could hurt you.  The famous (Costa Rican?) pianist Tzimon Barto is a weightlifter and he is one of my favorite pianists (check out his chopin preludes)

[Prodigy]

I've been weightlifting for a couple of years and have noted no difference with my playing.

My ams are considerably bigger and I suppose if I carried on and became huge the lats could be a problem and they'd make upper arm movement a bit cumbersome but unless you're gonna become ronnie coleman I wouldn't worry about it

It hasn't changed my hands at all - it strengthens your wrists and forearms which can only be a good thing.

[leemay001]

The only thing I can think of that would be a problem is that if you spend a lot of time weight-lifting (i'm not sure how much time you use but just an example) then you will have a lot less practise time. I guess it doesn't matter if your not real serious about playing but if your anything like me then you'd want to use every spare second practising. The only thing I do apart from practise is come onto the piano forum for a bit and discuss piano, but even then I'm still going back and forth to my piano.

[bernhard]

You can still practise while exercising, if you stretch your concept of practice and adapt your exercise. For instance:

1. Listen to the CD/DVD of the pieces you are learning.
2. Mental practice.
3. Score studying and memorising.
4. Moving to rhythm patterns (choose the ones in your pieces).

Pianists have too much of a sedentary life . Exercise is essential for health and longevity.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[BoliverAllmon]

Weight lifting has only helped me. It has actually caused my mind to work more clearly, thus enabling to learn music faster. Sometimes the hands my get sore or something, so I just do some extra scales to warm up.

boliver

P.s. just make sure you stretch

[steveolongfingers]

I too am in to working out, 3 times a week, and i run too.  Its helped me alot, for instance, the back and forth "trilling" of octaves in Sonata 8 by Beethoven, (laugh if you want) but i can play it effortlessly really fast, and i have long fingers which takes more effort to move fast.  But I dont get tired anymore

[chsmike2345]

I have to dissagree with all of you. Weight lifting? I used to for basketball, and your fingers just aren't what they can be. Think about it, you're carrying heavy loads of metal in your hands, and mostly in your fingers. This makes your fingers very stiff, and therefore your touch and versatility is diminished. In addition, when I used to play basketball, I often jammed my fingers from catching passes or something, which caused my fingers to swell. Now, my index finger on my right hand seems to be swollen permanently, being a little fatter than the rest. I've learned my lesson. Just trying to warn everyone before it's too late.

[BoliverAllmon]

There's this thing called stretching. Jammed fingers can happen anytime and anywhere. Exercising helps promote blood flow and helps you live longer. Pianists need the exercise to help the brain stay fresh. Also some people have weak fingers or have very little stamina. The best way to fix this problem is to strengthen them. I am not advocating becoming a bodybuilder, just doing some workouts.

boliver

[eddie92099]

Ashkenazy stresses the need for physical fitness in order to perform to full potential,
Ed

[steveolongfingers]

Not only does it help you play piano better, it helps you pick up chicks just one more thing to be bragging about.  

[chsmike2345]

Sure, I'm definitely for exercise (seeing famous pianists in old age is disturbing when you look at the wrong places), but to a certain extent, or a certain type. Running, swimming, anything that doesn't require extreme bulking or strengthening of the arms or fingers, as, like a said early, it will diminish the agility of your fingers and your feel and touch of the piano. Exercise is necessary no matter what you do.

[leemay001]

Exercise is necessary no matter what you do.

Although I don't think the old pianists (I mean in Beethoven's time) really concidered it to be. Most of them are quite fat. Heh,
  ~Lee~

[ilovemusic]

Well, I am climbing a lot, which should (considering the remarks made above) probably the worst thing one could do. It does make the fingers a bit thicker, but very strong. I can trill as long as I want to without getting I think it isn't a problem if you stretch and play much
more then you train.....

[dj]

i really don't think exercise has much effect at all on piano performance, as there are in-shape and out-of-shape pianists who can all play quite well reguardless of physique

[steveolongfingers]

But do you really want to be the fat piano player?

[bernhard]

Claudio Arrau - Yoga
Tamas Vasary - Yoga
Michelangeli - Raced cars and piloted planes
John Ogdon - Fork lifting  

[chsmike2345]

Piano performance is an art. Like all live art, there's a visual element. The visual is why Richard Clayderman is so famous. But, of course, the very best are judged by their playing, not their appearance, but it doesn't hurt to look good   ! Also, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, you have to be healthy. You could be the best pianist, or painter, or CEO, or whatever, but when you drop dead of a stroke or heart attack due to lack of exercise, everything goes down the drain. Exercise provides energy, which brings only advantages to piano playing.
But of course, jamming your finger, or bulking up your arm to the point of reduced flexibility and agility, or lifting so much weight that your fingers are constantly tensed and stiff will cause more harm than exercise will do good.

[bitus]

I have to partialy agree with chsmike2345. I worked out quite seriously, but it only damaged my wrist!
I also agree with running and stuff that doesn't involve your hands that much. I missed more than 1 competition because i had a cast on my arms.
Rachmaninoff said: "If i don't walk, my fingers won't run"
I strongly believe the body has to be active (move... e.g. jogging, swiming) in order for the brain to function properly and healthy.
The Bitus

[Irock1ce]

mike... perhaps u need a new trainer or something. There is a specific way that you need to go about working out. For example, when u bench press, you do not use ur fingers or ur wrist but acutally a bone thats in ur palm to hold the bar. Many people hold the bar with the fingers/wrist, thus causing injury and stiffness. when working out, you use ur fingers to simply hold the weight and u should never be using ur wrist to lift weights. That means ur doin somethin wrong..

[bernhard]

Have a look at this excellent book:

Hold It! You are exercising wrong - by Edward J. Jackowsky (Fireside - Simon & Schuster).

Or for a completely alternative view:

The body has its own reasons - a manual of anti-gymnastics  - by Therese Bertherat.