How do you warmup?

[rovis77]

Is it always necessary to warmup before playing piano to avoid injury?, how much time should one warmup and how?. thanks!!

[Bob]

I haven't really noticed much of a difference whether I warm up or not.  Adjusting to a new piano, yes -- some scales, arps, chords, etc.  and pieces played, and my hands think that's the piano they've always played on.

Otherwise, it's probably more of a mental focus thing.  But it's good to be able to play a piece cold too.  It's just nicer when then hands know the piano and the brain is in performance mode ahead of time.


Otherwise for daily practice, I just go through a routine.  I guess it's not starting off too difficult though, so the easier stuff at the beginning might be the warmup (scales and arps).   I'm not starting off pushing the speed on octaves.

[dima_76557]

How do you warmup?

I don't. The thought of the music I'm going to play/practise makes my hands warm, even in winter.

[billyfisher100]

I play scales, arpeggiated broken chords, chord sequences, then an etude or two - it takes me a fairly long time to warm up normally (5 - 10 minutes) not just to exercise, stretch and warm up the hands but more to get in the zone!

[quantum]

Usually, I just go straight into playing.  If a warmup is needed, I usually improvise or sight read through repertoire. 

[timothy42b]

In a new setting I need some time to figure out the acoustics - how dead, how long the reverb, etc.  I play enough to stay warm, I never seem to need much warmup.