Coffees effect on the hands

[perfect_pitch]

I personally drink a few cups of coffee a day and only need it because I get bugger all sleep at night.

I'm just curious though as whether coffee has any effect on the hands, notably the dexterity. I mean has there been any studies into this??? Or am I just being a paranoid nutjob???

I'm sitting a big exam and I already chow down on Fish Oil tablets to help with muscle joint lucidity... and want to take every precaution to allow me to practice to the full potential.

[ted]

Are you sure cause and effect regarding your coffee and sleeping are not the other way around ? No, coffee in the quantity I drink it, one or two cups a day on average, makes no difference at all to my technique. I know because I have stopped on occasions and nothing has happened. I have never read about studies concerning dexterity but it is well known that too high a coffee intake causes anxiety and nervousness in some individuals; presumably that would affect control at the piano.

[Petter]

If you drink a few cups on daily basis you´d probably suffer more from the abstinence if you quit cold turkey then you would gain in terms of concentration if the exam is soon. But over time I suppose you should stay away from all toxics. But hey, that´s no fun.

[perfect_pitch]

Ahh - I got no problem giving up coffee... I gave up coffee for 4 weeks and didn't cheat once easily.

However the exam isn't for 18 months but right now I'm spending about 6 - 7 hours a day practicing, so I want to make sure I'm not doing anything to ruin my chances of learning this piece as fast as I can.

[go12_3]

The best thing with any kind of caffeine  intake is in moderation.  I get jittery and therefore, I don't drink coffee.  Whatever your body can handle, but not overdo so that would affect your playing.

[pies]

a

[term]

I'm just curious though as whether coffee has any effect on the hands, notably the dexterity. I mean has there been any studies into this??? Or am I just being a paranoid nutjob???

None. You play with or without, it doesn't even matter if you smoke or not, all a matter of habit.

[aslanov]

the only effect caffeien can have on u that i've experienced is performance anxiety, because there are is so much neural activity while on caffeine and when u freeze up mid-performance u'll just make a hash of everything.

[jaypiano]

the only effect caffeien can have on u that i've experienced is performance anxiety, because there are is so much neural activity while on caffeine and when u freeze up mid-performance u'll just make a hash of everything.

Classic American comic line: "that woman would make coffee nervous!"

[pianovirus]

The body quickly develops tolerance to caffeine, so immediately stopping would be worse on a short-term basis than just going on as before. Changing these or other habits is best done not during or shortly before important periods such as exams IMO.

What is this fish oil thing? Never heard of that. Doesn't sound very delicious, but of course I wouldn't hesitate to eat it if it helped me to get smoother tremoli....

[perfect_pitch]

Fish oil apparenty helps your joints and (according to the health food guy who I don't trust with a 60-foot pole) does help your finger joints and knuckles as well.

Having said that - I also bought some pills (natural ingredients) which were supposed to help me sleep... 2 months and NOTHING!!!

So I still wonder about how dodgy these health food stores are.

[Bob]

I haven't noticed any effect from caffeine on the hands.  Caffeine can let you work a little longer and wear yourself down that way in the long run though.

Every once in awhile I also notice I feel relieved from coffee.  Haha.  Stress and effort relieved I mean.  Because if you're fighting to stay awake, then the caffeine kicks in and you don't have to put in the effort to stay awake. 

[s1d1f1]

I think it does effects(COFFIE)because of blood presure.
If you have a high blood presure...it will be bad because mixing wit stage fright and adrenalin can get your hands shake like hell.
So try some other drinks like relaxing tea(lavander),to avoid that

[db05]

I find coffee quite relaxing actually. My musician friends dig it too.