Physical exercises for pianists

[kikosp2001]

I need to invent 5 physical exercises which would be useful for pianists.In my opinion the exercises should be:

Push ups,Pull ups,arms exercises,stretching exercises.

Please tell me what do you suggest.Your help will be really appreciated

[Petter]

Swimming helps me.

[kikosp2001]

Do you guys do hand/arm streching before you play piano.And how about sit ups and push ups,do you any of those?I personally prefer the arm streching,push ups,sit ups all of those,and I do these regularly.

I will probably mention something about swimming,tennis and voleyball as recreational sports/activites that help a lot to the pianists.

Does someone prefer: long running/walking/jogging/doing Palatti exercises/Yoga/Meditation etc?

[0range]

Useful in what way? All of the things you've mentioned are beneficial for overall health, but are of no specific use piano playing (with the possible exception of yoga, for stretching purposes).

[Bob]

I'd go more with yoga and stretching for benefiting piano.

How about sitting on the piano bench and slowly moving the torso around, relaxing that way?

Running, jogging, walking.  Keep the heart in shape.

Deep breathing. 

Toe touching.  Keep the torso limber.

Sit ups or crunches.  Keep the abs in good shape so good posture is easier.

[a-sharp]

I'll have to ditto running or any other aerobic exercise - lowers the resting heart rate, and effectively lowers heart rate under pressure (learned this in a archery segment during the Olympics)

& yoga/pilates/dance ... for grace, movement & posture - all of which I think are essential for piano or music in general. I often take some of my hand gestures from what I learn from taking a ballet & dance.

Course - I have so much studying & practicing I have no time for either, LOL (do what I say, not what I do!)

[richard black]

Yes, swimming, running, cycling are good - they get you generally fit and it's quite hard to find a really fit musician who suffers badly from nerves, interestingly.

[rc]

My problem with working out the arms is that they're tired and utterly useless for piano practice for a good while afterwards.  Do 50 pushups and try playing a scale.

Cardio is the best, gets the blood flowing and wakes up the mind.  I used skipping for a while, especially in the winter when it's too cold out.  It's also a challenge in itself, to do for long periods without hitting my toes, going faster and faster. (also it's cheap and doesn't take up a lot of space )

Sit ups or crunches.  Keep the abs in good shape so good posture is easier.

Agreed!  I should do more of this

[Bob]

Lift smaller weights.  I had a nice surprise recently with arm weights.  Leave enough time so you can recover.  50?  I was doing like 5.  Ten at the most. 

[allemande]

I would mostly agree with Petter and Bob.

Perhaps the best physical exercises for a pianist are those that wouldn't jeopardize his/her hands, arms. and that wouldn't demand too much muscular strength and stamina.

Pianists usually need exercise that deals with their tension, stiffness, stress, posture, and those things related with being sitting down resolving repetitive tasks for countless hours. Good exercises that "wake up" the rest of the body.

It is a matter of keeping the body in activity, in movement and in shape. Not Arnold type shape, but a healthy shape that allows everything to work well with no perturbations.

and of course, keeping one's mind free of too many problems and in shape is just as important too.

Swimming, yoga, pilates, meditation, moderate cardio-exercise,very light weight lifting (to work back, waist, shoulder and neck muscles). All these things should be very beneficial.

[rc]

Good post allemande!  Can't argue that

Lift smaller weights.  I had a nice surprise recently with arm weights.  Leave enough time so you can recover.  50?  I was doing like 5.  Ten at the most. 

Oh that might have something to do with it.  I approach exercise like piano, when 5 gets easy I start doing 10, then it gets higher and higher.  Not that I want to become some sort of bodybuilder, I just figure exercise ought to be progressive.

But we don't really need much muscles.  I wonder if my skiprope will bother the neighbour below me?  Gonna hafta do something during the winter when I'm afraid to go outside.

[Bob]

You have to have enough energy to recover from physical exercise though. 

[Petter]

You have to have enough energy to recover from physical exercise though. 

[Bob]

Beefcake!

[meow0628]

How about computer typeing? it's good for me!

[morningstar]

I usually do a bit of stretching and self chiropractic exercises (wouldn't recommend the latter unless you know what you're doing) before playing for prolonged periods. Lol computer typing would probably help, touch typing in particular which I still can't do!

[a-sharp]

I find the repetitive lifting of my coffee cup helps to keep my arm strong as well as encourage some range of motion with the added bonus of keeping me awake between practice sessions, harmony homework and reading for my American Studies class. 

[Bob]

American studies?  What's that?

[a-sharp]

LOL ... I mean - this is a joke right (not that I knew what it was before I was taking the class, LOL!)

[gyzzzmo]

pianist excersise: poke your nose with your left foot's little toe.
Then your probably pretty flexible, but could also concider the yoga carreer.

gyzzzmo

[Bob]

Now how of you just licked your elbows?

There's a reasons feet and noses are far apart. 

[allthumbs]

Now how of you just licked your elbows?

There's a reasons feet and noses are far apart. 

...and other body orifices.

[rc]

People telling me how to wakeboard:

"touch your butt to your knees!"

 

[loonbohol]

Maybe you neeed to try to play computer games or carry groceries with your fingers.

[morningstar]

Maybe you neeed to try to play computer games or carry groceries with your fingers.

Yeah try using a keyboard like mine, you will improve dexterity fairly quickly

[archneko]

Too much arm excercises can jeopardize your playing skills
Plus, too much muscle in the arms can make it hard for you to "move around".
Can a sumo wrestler play the piano? Well, he/she probably could, but not very well.

However, longer pieces require a good amount of stamina. A concert pianist should consider cardio.. I read in a magazine that conductors must work out their arm muscles several hours a day to get through a single concert without fainting...

Yoga is also a good suggestion. Cramps on stage can be a horrifying experience.