does anyone have tips for long vacations?

[Reoreo111]

I'm going to Spain for 3 weeks this summer.  Because it's a school trip, there's a strict itinerary which we must follow.  It will be alot of fun, but...  The problem is that after 3 weeks of not practicing, it takes me FOREVER to get back to where I was before.  Can anyone give me tips or pointers on how to get around this problem?  perhaps a way to keep fingers flexible without a piano?  

[chopinetta]

keep on tapping your fingers on anything you can set them on. Like the back of the seat in front of you on the bus. The table as you wait for your coffee order...

[amee]

Actually, Arrau's teacher thought it beneficial to have a month in every year where no contact with the piano is made.  This is to prevent the playing from going "stale".  Arrau remarked that when he got back to the piano, it was always a new and exciting experience.

[Rach3]

Hi!

(My $0.019997)

I will have a similar problem, involving an extended vacation in Europe, in about 5 hours [its 12:30 AM local as of writing   ]. I really honestly don't know what to do myself. I have 'experience' in being unable to practice for extended periods of time. What I notice is, firstly, is that returning to the piano involves a great emotional and musical enlightenment, the realization and triumph of the various themes circling through one's thoughts for months. Perhaps think through the pieces in your head, both in sound/notes and in the physical act of playing, like Chopinetta said. Tapping fingers works best with fast pieces and longer surfaces, not necessarily 'flat'. Avoid playing in air, its less helpful for dexterity and terrifies civilians. I agree with Mr. Arrau's (tangentially which of his recordings are good? I have heard enthusiastic comments about his recordings but I've only heard [I think] his Chopin etudes, which are in fact beautifully done) teacher, it does unstale one's playing, although I would add that absense from piano would also disrupt one's practice regimes and would be preferable in so called 'interim' time such as summer. When returning, start first with something you have mastered completely and that you know very well, to regain the flexibility and strength of the fingers, from which all else will follow. Its very difficult to forget a piece, I can sight read difficult pieces I haven't looked at in years, third time through impeccably under performance tempo; the musical subtleties come back with great facility, as they are memorized less peripherally than things like grammar rules. As your case is a school trip, you really will be without any practicing. In my case, it being a vacation, under what conditions can one practice in foreign countries, in a serious way? What about university pracitice rooms? Do European universities have practice rooms like here? I am taking up waaaaaaaaaay too much space.

Good luck!

[JTownley]

 Definitely take a practice keyboard w/ you. It's a full or 3/4-full keyboard that has tension controls on the keys. No sound, obviously, but good for exercises and playing while you imagine the music in your head. I don't agree w/ what Arrau's teacher advised. I go by what an equally famous pianist (Brendel, maybe) said: "When I go w/o practice one day, I notice it; when I go w/o practice two days my critics notice it; when I go w/o practice three days my audience notices it." Happy depressing (not depression)!
https://www.JoeTownle.com    

[Aurelio]

:Psorry about my english
I think amee (arrau) advice is the best you can do

It is a three weeks rest, not three months

If you are going to go on holiday, forget piano!!
Mind and body will thank you, musicians (mind and muscless) need "disconnect" from time to time and a journey is the PERFECT CHANCE to do it, so f*ck the piano on holidays

When you restart playing, go with careful, start softly

[JTownley]

With all  due respect to Aurelio (i'm sure he's a hell of a nice guy and all) I beg you not to follow his recommendation. You are young yet and still in your formative years (far as piano goes). A month away from the piano is only for pro musicians who concertise extensively and need a break from a rigorous routine of jetting all over the world and 8 hours of practice a day in between. Taking a break helps them to avoid burnout. You are nowhere near to experiencing burnout at your tender age. Do anything you can to find a piano and get in all the practice you can manage while on this vacation.  You'll be glad you did. Trust me.
https://www.JoeTownley.com   Lots of piano videos!

[Reoreo111]

Thank you all for your wide variety of replies!!!  

[chopinetta]

is my advice on tapping your fingers on something as a piano alternative anything good??!??

[88keys]

I think that the decision of whether or not to practice when on vacation, depends on what you plan to do immediately after the vacation.

If you don't touch a piano for three weeks, it will take you at least a month or two to return to your previous level of technique.

So the question is, quite simply: Can you afford playing a few grades below your current level, for a month or two after the vacation?

If you can, forget practicing. Relaxing and replenishing your energy will do you much more good than practicing.

On the other hand, if you can't afford playing less well for a few months, than a practice keyboard (or better yet - a portable digial piano) may be a good idea.

[tempest-Sonata]

yes relax, since it's a vacation, that includes vacation from piano!