How fit?

[Swan]

How fit do you have to be to play the piano really well?

What type of exercising (non piano) do you do to get/keep fit?

[DarkWind]

If you can sit on the bench and not break it, your are ok.

[xvimbi]

If you can sit on the bench and not break it, your are ok.

If you play ffff and can't break the strings, you are not ok

More seriously, check out pictures of well-known pianists to get an idea. If you are fit enough to get through life comfortably, you are fit enough to play the piano well.

[donjuan]

Musicians dont need to be that fit.  Good musicians will know they dont play with muscles, but weight of the arm.  Even Better musicians know they can use their legs to transfer power into the keyboard.

I suppose a musician should have a good heart to have the endurance to keep a performance high quality.

[faulty_damper]

Pianists have to have muscles to play the piano because muscles are rather heavy and it contributes to overall arm weight.  Prove it: Play something.  Then tie a 1 pound or more weight onto the wrist and play something.  Which method is easier to do?  The one with the weights!  You don't have to bang as hard to play forte and I'm sure there are many other benefits with heavier arms.

How fit?  You have to look like Arnold Schartzeneggar to be able to play well.

[Tash]

well i'm a total bum who's excercise consists of walking 20 minutes to the station if i can't get a lift, and walking 7minutes to upper campus of uni and back again. so i can't say i'm incredibly fit, but i don't play too badly either. but i guess playing the piano has given me some form of arm muscles. you wouldn't want to be completely weak in your arms or it'd be hard to get a larger range of dynamics and tone. so provided you're not a lazy ass bum with absolutely no muscles whatsoever, i'm sure you're fine...or maybe that's why i'm not the most brilliant?! oh just watch me get out the weights, Space Gym here i come!!