Physical and mental "warmup" or stretching?

[Bob]

I hesitate to say "warmup."

What things do you do to get your mind in gear and get a good physical feeling in order to play?


Does anyone do any kind of stretches for piano?


Sometimes my back is stiff and stretches help.  I wonder if there's anything like that for piano.  (Of course, the back is used in piano too, so having an "in shape" back helps too I guess.)

[thalbergmad]

I normally practise in the evenings, by which time i have cycled home from work, had a hot bath and a large home made meal.

Works for me.

[rc]

Tea is my practice steroid.

I live in a basement suite, it gets cold often, frozen fingers are the worst. Tea keeps me warm, has some caffine to keep me buzzin', is healthy, and doesn't rot my gut like coffee does.

My back is usually stiff after work, and sometimes I get home a little on the tired side... I have a nap, laying on my back to get it relaxed, listening to whatever music tickles me to get motivated.

I figure that a persons back should be in fine shape from standing/sitting upright all day, every day. Good posture is the best I can think of to minimize the work your back muscles have to do.

I don't really have any routine stretch for when my back gets stiff. I just twist and move around however it feels good, or as I said earlier, lie down flat on my back... Lying down I can feel how tense and arched my lower back is, and as it begins to unwind and relax.

[Bob]

For the physical side, just flexing my hands into a fist and then stretching my fingers out (just with the power of that one hand, no bending or pulling with the other).... I find that that helps a little.  Or seems to.

I wonder if there's more.

[pianistimo]

why? why do you have to do more?  kiss each and every finger - wear good gloves in the winter, and run them under warm water when they are cold.  treat them as you would your car (which you want to run to the most mileage, if you're anything like me).  overstretching, and moving the joints and hands more than necessary seems a waste of time to me.  maybe i'm wrong.

[Bob]

Not "overstretching" as in bending the fingers back. 

Just things to do to keep my hands/piano playing  light, agile, springy... all that.  To be in good physical and mental shape for piano playing.

[pianistimo]

the secret is in italy.  olive oil, bob.  eat lots of it. 

[ted]

I have never done anything specifically to prepare for playing.  However, I do plenty to ensure that I'm giving myself the best chance of generally good mental and physical health - right food, exercise, rest - and I'm sure such disciplines must enhance the pleasure I get from playing.

[Bob]

the secret is in italy. olive oil, bob. eat lots of it.

Seriously?