Benefits of a total physical warm up

[steve jones]

Im not sure if Im alone in this, but I find it of tremendous help to perform a mild warm up before practicing / playing piano. By this, Im not talking about playing scales or exercises! I mean, a total physical warm up, something to raise the body temp and heart rate. It makes perfect sense really, yet Iv never heard anyone mention it before with relation to piano playing.

If you've never tried this, I recommend you do so. Go for a brisk walk, short jog, or do some aerobic exercises. Afterwards, your hands will move like greese lightening!

[zheer]

A hot bath or shawer is a better to warm up than practicing scales. I start with a hot shawer no need for scales.

[steve jones]

You are correct, that a hot bath is effective. But this is only of limited use in warming muscles for exercise - an aerobic warm up is FAR better.

Considering the highly physical nature of piano playing, Im amazed no one has considered a more scientific approach to preparation.

[gorbee natcase]

I have tried having a bath before practicing, It just makes me tired and sleepy.
Why? do your fingers always go stiff when they are cold, every year the thermostat has to be at a certain level for me to be able to practice (Whats all that about). Do we have to look at our selves as machinery that needs ideal conditions to perform efficiently.

perhaps a heated keyboard to keep your fingers at the ideal playing temperature, I suppose it would need research. I wonder if anyone has ever thought of that.

[zheer]

Have you tried practicing yoga after a hot bath , you will find you body is more flexible. Its the same with piano playing the more flexible and free you are the better, it has something to do with the blood flow.
        I gess a physical warm up will improve mind and body coordination.

[cfortunato]

I find a hot bath by candlelight helps a lot.  Especially on weekdays, when I come home from work too tired to want to do much of anything

[steve jones]

Thermal warming is ofcourse a great help, but it is not particularly effective in warming muscles for exercise, this is a fact. Just look at the warm up routines performed by atheletes - you never seen them sitting in the bath before training do you?

I cant explain to you the details of this, but it is recommended to warm the body using mild aerobic exercise - this not only facilitates optimum performance, but also protects against injury. Warm down is equally as important - it is recommended that after training, an athelete should cool down using relaxed static stretches.

Im convinced that these principles would help pianists immensely. Infact, I have been doing this for the last few months and it works perfectly. I take a brisk walk each morning, and this warms my up perfectly for a practice session (my hands movely like greese lightning from the start). To finish I perform some wrist and hand stretches.

The results have been great - no need to spend time preparing for practice with exercises of scales, no injuries, helps with fatigue, has extended my reach significantly.

[xvimbi]

The results have been great - no need to spend time preparing for practice with exercises of scales, no injuries, helps with fatigue, has extended my reach significantly.

For most activities, performing that particular activity at a low-impact level is a perfect warm-up. Thus, there is nothing wrong with playing scales. One could likewise say "no need to spend time preparing for practice with a brisk warm-up walk".

In fact, I believe that what concerns piano playing, there is no need for a "warm up" at all. Sit down and play. Just don't start up with the most virtuosic passages if that helps. Many pianists would even argue that one should be able to play anything "cold".

Although playing the piano is often compared to an athletic activity, I think it's not that much of an athletic activity that one has to worry too much about warming up. On the other hand, going through such a routine (stretching, etc.) doesn't hurt too much either if done properly.

[ted]

In this case I agree with xvimbi. I enjoy keeping fit and well generally but do not ascribe specific daily relationships between music and fitness. I have not "warmed up" for many years because I haven't found it necessary. Besides, I have a personal wariness of anything which involves prerequisites in music generally. "Before I can play I must warm up every day", "Before I can play properly I must practise scales for months", "Before I can write a piano piece I must study theories", "Before I use this chord I must ask an expert if it's correct." 

My life is too short not to go straight to whatever it is I want to work on. Having said that, I suppose any routine which helps a given individual is good, and we're all different.

[steve jones]

For most activities, performing that particular activity at a low-impact level is a perfect warm-up. Thus, there is nothing wrong with playing scales. One could likewise say "no need to spend time preparing for practice with a brisk warm-up walk".

In fact, I believe that what concerns piano playing, there is no need for a "warm up" at all. Sit down and play. Just don't start up with the most virtuosic passages if that helps. Many pianists would even argue that one should be able to play anything "cold".

Although playing the piano is often compared to an athletic activity, I think it's not that much of an athletic activity that one has to worry too much about warming up. On the other hand, going through such a routine (stretching, etc.) doesn't hurt too much either if done properly.

Interesting. I must admit, I have found this very useful but I guess its each to their own. Btw, I actually discovered this by accident - I walk each morning anyway, but only recently have I allocated a practice time directly afterwards.

Maybe you guys dont feel the cold quite as much as I do. On cool days my hands get really stiff, and are pretty useless for a while. I like the feeling of being physcially warmed up before playing - it sets me up for the session perfectly!

With regards to stretching, I am VERY careful. I pulled muscles before training martial arts, and it was not funny. But the hands and wrists are much more delicate than the legs, so I am very conscious of not hurting a tendon or ligament. But as Im yet to feel an signs of strain, I figure my methods is ok. And it has helped me alot with the longer chords - my left hand can things I never could have a few months ago.

[teresa_b]

Hi Steve,

I posted something about this last year.  I agree with you.  I always do better if I exercise aerobically for at least 30 minutes, and then begin piano practice.  My hands feel much more warmed up before I even start.

All the best, Teresa

[Tash]

i sort of agree with everyone here- i agree that doing some kind of physical exercise is beneficial- for me if i go for a power walk before practicing my hands are always good to play. however i can have a hot shower and then my hands will be good to play (a bath on the other hand wouldn't be great mentally cos i'd fall asleep!). however just straight scales also warm my hands up so i'm good to play. the problem withall three of these is that when i get around to performing i don't necessarily have the opportunity to do any of these thus they're useless. in which case i'd agree with ted and xvimbi saying just going straight into the pieces. it'd probably be good in getting used to playing in that situation and i wouldn't be so paranoid about it. which'd be ok in summer, but winter, i have weird circulation issues and my hands and feet get super frozen, but my cool peter alexander jumpers help that (the sleeves go right down to my hands and have a thumb hols- so like gloves but completely withoutt he finger holes) and they keep my hands warm without restricting movement in any way. anyway i'm waffling.i agree with you all!!

[stevie]

i wouldve advised a quick sex session, but after sex testosterone is descreased and you loose aggression and srive, so this might not be best for practicing, but it feels good at the time.

[steve jones]

i sort of agree with everyone here- i agree that doing some kind of physical exercise is beneficial- for me if i go for a power walk before practicing my hands are always good to play. however i can have a hot shower and then my hands will be good to play (a bath on the other hand wouldn't be great mentally cos i'd fall asleep!). however just straight scales also warm my hands up so i'm good to play. the problem withall three of these is that when i get around to performing i don't necessarily have the opportunity to do any of these thus they're useless. in which case i'd agree with ted and xvimbi saying just going straight into the pieces. it'd probably be good in getting used to playing in that situation and i wouldn't be so paranoid about it. which'd be ok in summer, but winter, i have weird circulation issues and my hands and feet get super frozen, but my cool peter alexander jumpers help that (the sleeves go right down to my hands and have a thumb hols- so like gloves but completely withoutt he finger holes) and they keep my hands warm without restricting movement in any way. anyway i'm waffling.i agree with you all!!

Tash,

That wouldnt happen to be Raynauds syndrome would it? Iv often wondered if I dont have a bit of that too - my hands get COLD, lol.


Stevie,

I dont get it - should I get laid before practice, after... or both? 

[Tash]

i have no idea if i have raynoauds syndrome, i have just googled it and could potentially have it- i dunno, my feet just tend to me a lovely purple colour from lack of circulation and get chilblanes in winter if i don't keep them warm...and my hands are cold so i wear gloves obsessively...and my nose goes red when i suddenly go from cold to hot...i just like to think of it as some random herediatary thing so i don't get paranoid that my fingers are going to fall off...

[stringoverstrung]

i have no idea if i have raynoauds syndrome, i have just googled it and could potentially have it- i dunno

Of course i don't know your lifestyle but in general one can say that before you must be afraid of this kind of syndrom, ask yourself the following questions:
- do you take enough exercise? (= half an hour a day, pretty intensive if possible)
- evaluate your food habits.
- do you sleep in a room with constant temperature?
- does your cardiovascular system gets the possibility to "cool down" during the day eg are you sitting still for more then 2 hrs a day on a school bench for example.

If so try to change some of it over an extended period (> 2 months) and be prepared to be amazed. ( PS: I'm not suggesting to quit school )

[steve jones]

Tash,

Sorry if I scared you! I dont think Raynauds is serious in 99.9% of cases, so you have nothing to worry about. Most people with this just have problems keeping their extremities warm.

Actually, its funny you should mention the red nose in Winter as this is the exact opposite of Raynauds, caused by the over-vascilation of the face. Many people with Raynauds also find themselves problem to over active blushing.

Also, stringoverstrung is so right about exercise. My hands are like ice right now, but I havent moved all day  The second I go out for a jog or walk my hands will be like toast. I think its definately a good idea to kick start you body into action each morning (and if this serves as a good piano warm up, then thats a handy bonus!).