Alright, enough's enough...

[bradley]

Firstly, don't judge me by the number of posts I have 

I woke up this morning and I raised my self onto my forearms, and my shoulder went into spasm and locked up. That sucks! Now I have to go for accupuncture...

A few weeks ago I had to play in a concert where my university had a joint concert with another one in the same area. Anyway, we shared the Rach Etudes, we did Op 33 and they did Op 39. I got given Op 33-5. I could play it perfectly... until it came to the concert. I don't get nervous or anything like that, but something happend in my brain, and suddenly my arms felt like lead after about the first page or so. It really sucked, cos my fingers suddenly couldn't play the notes properly, and it fell apart (except the audience didn't really know, cos its a weird piece). Afterwards, I felt EXHAUSTED. I was completely dead (not literally, but u know wot i mean  ).

My point is, I've been talking to some people about this, and I think I need to do 2 things:

1. I need to get fit and stronger
2. I need to change my diet (at least a week before a concert or exam etc)

So, I have number 2 under control, but I need input on number 1. I need advice on cardiovascular exercises and on exercises to strengthen my upper body (stomach, back, shoulders, arms etc). Also, I think I need strengthen my hands and fingers. I have access to the following exercises, please tell me which ones I should do and what I should to from them:

Berens (all)
Bertini (all)
Brahms
Burgmuller (all)
Concone
Cramer
Czerny (all)
Duvernoy (all)
Dohnanyi
Gurlitt (all)
Hanon
Heller (all)
Herz
Kohler (all)
Kullak
Le Coupey
Macfarren
Moszkowski
Phillip
Pishna (all)
Plaidy
Schmitt
Schulz
Stamaty
Strrabbog (all)
Wieck

I know people debate about Hanon, but advice would be nice  . I also know that the Berens left hand exercises are good, as are the Kullak octave ones.

Thanks in advance,
Bradley

[fuel925]

Correct me if I misinterpreted your post, but from what I could gather you could play the piece perfectly fine, but it fell apart at the exam, and you felt physically exhausted?

If that's the case, then I don't think there is anything wrong with your strength or fitness, else you would get exhausted after playing the piece every time, even when alone. One explanation could be that you subconciously tense your upper body muscles when playing for an audience, you might not realise you do this, but it causes this fatigue when the performance is completed. Just an idea