Do you play sports and do you find that it helps or hinders your piano practice?

[Spatula]

I remember after finishing my grade 8 exam, I quit piano.  This was when I was going to enter 1st year university.  While at university,  I wanted to try out something totally new to me.  I always thought of perhaps doing a martial art, but I wanted something that wasn't mainstream, ie Karate, Kung Fu, Judo etc. 

So an alternative that suited what I wanted for interest as well as physical fitness sake was Kendo, which studied the way of the sword.  Now before you think this is some blade fighting school, place your misconceptions of Kill Bill aside. 

We used bamboo swords known as shinais and first wore the typical hakama and ji (pleatedpants and jacket), then later putting on the bogu (body armour). 

I found this new practice exhilerating!  But slow, but I was patient because the sensai had a absolute zero tolerance for cockiness.  He was a 5 degree Dan level in Kendo and, wouldn't you know it, was Japanese.  We trained hard, and we sweat with our own strain and blood, but it was rewarding in the sense that you were doing something totally new, and continually growing on it.

I ended up quiting 8 months later, even though I came a long way from the first class to the last class.  Basically I couldn't handle the course load of University and having to stay up late nights to practice then come home exhausted for a 9 o'clock class the next day. 

As well, the armour did protect you from reasonable injury, but they didn’t protect you from pain.  Oh the welts that would be as big as a dollar coin not just in one spot would be all over my wrists, because the kote (wrists) were considered a critical area for the sword to strike on the opponent, aside from the men (head), and doh (body).

Plus I didn’t quit piano, I just quit taking lessons and then worked on more contemporary stuff like the Final Fantasy pieces. 

What are your experiences?   (Bernie hint hint this is your queue)

[ted]

I played competitive tennis for many years when I was younger and it had no detrimental effect on my music that I was aware of. I do not play sports now but do a lot of training with a stationary cycle and various bits and pieces of resistance equipment. This makes me feel healthier mantally and physically and is therefore indirectly conducive to better piano playing and musicianship.

[jlh]

I think sports can be beneficial to piano playing in that many sports encourage and develop upper body strength, and also develop the parts of your brain that control coordination.  I unfortunately had a snow skiing accident once that caused me to stop practicing for about 3 months a few years ago (before my university years).  So you just need to be careful.

[galonia]

I used to play badminton and I found that was very helpful because it helped loosen up my wrists.  I also found qigong training helped my breathing.  Nowadays, I swim and dance for my health - I agree with Ted that feeling healthy cannot harm your playing.

[Sketchee]

Play sports and risk injuring my precious hands, arms and even feet (for pedals)!?  Naw but I'm about as athletically coordinated as a blind duck

[shotkong64x]

I throw shotput for my university,  Though i wouldn't really consider that a sport.  all we do is lift, and throw a really heavy ball around   

Id say its pretty beneficial as far as piano is concerned

[Daren]

I did a lot of mountain biking 5 years ago and not wearing a helmet I crashed and fractured my skull and damaged my right ear.
I could not hear anything that side for months and even now have problems with slight hearing loss after undergoing an operation,but it is better and im back to the piano.
When I had the accident I did not play for 2 years.I didnt think I would ever have the love for my piano ever again with only 1 ear.

I do still go cycling but now i wear a halmet.

Regards
Daz

[LJC]

I broke my thumb skiing, that definately had an adverse effect. I broke a finger sailing and that also tends to keep you off the keyboard. No permanent damage. My hands are all cramped up after sailing from pulling lines with large loads but after an hour or so the mobility comes back.

[ilovemusic]

I am rock-climing. I suppose it is a very static use of the finger-muscels, but my dexterity has only increased. I was climbing before I was playing, though. Directly after I have climbed my hands are very flexible and agily, which may be contrary to expectations. I try to play directly after I have climbed, to ingrain the correct coordination ( moving souple on the keyboard instread of squeezing very hard).

For now, I do not find any disadvantages. I suppose this is the most extreme stress you can put on one's fingers, so maybe all sports are okay.


Joost.