URGENT help needed re: warming up away from piano

[thorn]

Ive got a bit of a problem. Im in a piano competition on Sunday, and the amazingly intelligent organisers have arranged it so im playing Ravel's Ondine at around 9 o clock in the morning without any chance to warm up 

so im wondering if anyone knows of anything i can do away from a piano to prepare? i.e. before i go on

[faulty_damper]

You take a short jog (even job in place), followed by jumping jacks.  Then do some stretches of your entire body.  Gently massage your forearms.  Get a squeeze ball and squeeze it gently in your hands.

I don't play the piano to warmup if it's late in the afternoon (because I've had the day's activities to do so) but if it's early morning and the blood isn't flowing in my arms and body, I do the above mentioned.  It also helps me to relax as my muscles aren't stiff from just waking up.

[pianistimo]

don't you have any practice pianos in the area to warm-up on?  that is strange not to have a piano to warm-up on.  are there any friends you have - to stay the night with?  i would practice up to 8:45 - drive over - and walk in warmed up.

[thorn]

thanks for the advice faulty_damper

@pianistimo, no they dont. i think you literally get a minute or two before you actually start the piece. but you have given me an idea because i live 20/25 mins away so i could probably get away with practising until 8:30 because its not like traffic will be dire on a sunday morning

*feels a lot calmer*

[pianowelsh]

Allow plenty of time for worst case traffic - you dont want the Horowitz syndrome of being stuck in your own traffic jam!! A teacher once told me to massage all your playing joints in circular movements (ie all finger joints wrists and shoulders - partic if your driving because you can get tense in the shoulders!)  do circular motions with your wrists and rotate your shoulders shaking out your wrists (so they floppy). Keep everything loose but warm. Also I find it helpfull to get a blow dryer (ie in bathrooms) and stick my hands under it for a bit to take the cold off - this is also helpfull of they get clammy.  Remember to breathe well.  When we get tense we forget to breath and this only creates more tension so relax and imagine the opening of ondine rippling along in your head as you stand by the blower in the bathroom and waggle your wrists.  If your doing this in front of the mirror you can then have a good laugh at yourself and think 'my goodness what a crazy existence piano playing is..its total lunacy to get so worked up' and then just go and have FUN!  -  All the best for your competition

[tds]

Ive got a bit of a problem. Im in a piano competition on Sunday, and the amazingly intelligent organisers have arranged it so im playing Ravel's Ondine at around 9 o clock in the morning without any chance to warm up 

so im wondering if anyone knows of anything i can do away from a piano to prepare? i.e. before i go on

do as much warm as you can, but no more than necessary. be prepared if the opening doesnt come out the way you want. its only a resemblance of quite shimmering water, that doesnt have to be played perfectly evenly anyway.

[thorn]

thank you all for all of your advice, it really helped a lot.

i came 3rd in the class i played Ondine for, so didnt mess up half as much as i was expecting.

managed to win another class too and came 2nd in another so it went well =]

[tds]

well done!

[pianowelsh]

BRAVO!!!!