What do you do to warm up (w/o keyboard) before playing “cold”?

ShiroKuro

In the YONC thread, a lot of people mention the challenge of playing cold. And since I have my jury perfomance coming up, I’m a little worried about that as well.

So, what do you do to warm up before playing “cold”? I mean specifically when you can’t warm up at a keyboard, and you’re going to have to just sit down and play.

I wonder if I can tag some people… @twocats @KevinM @TheBoringPianist …

🙂

TheBoringPianist

ShiroKuro I don't have any silver bullets... if my fingers are stiff and cold, I stick them in my armpits or sit on them to warm them up lol and stretch them a bit. Sometimes I play piano on my legs.

Starting with a piece that's a little more forgiving can also help you settle into a performance, both physically and mentally (e.g. for me something like the Franck-Bauer Prelude, fugue et variation or Bach-Siloti Prelude in B minor)

pianoloverus

You could try playing any piece you want on a table or flat surface or just moving your fingers around a lot in the air without playing anything. Fortunately, I've usually had a chance to warm up on the piano before playing.

KevinM

I can't give any positive practical advice. If you do some physical activity to use up some of the nervous energy I would not recommend indoor climbing or any other activity that will result in sore and stiff aching fingers and arms. I think something light that ensures your fingers are not stiff and ready to go might help, but that may only apply to us older players.

In my attempts in the YONC thread I did no prep at all. I just sat down and played.

ShiroKuro

@pianoloverus I wouldn't want to "play" on a table, nothing that's not forgiving.

KevinM If you do some physical activity to use up some of the nervous energy I would not recommend indoor climbing or any other activity that will result in sore and stiff aching fingers and arms.

I saw you post about that, it sounds like something I would want to avoid!

I am a proponent of physical exercise on the day of a performance though, more specifically something lightly aerobic like a brisk walk or slightly fast bike ride. Something that gets the blood pumping, heart rate up, and get out of breath. I have found that this takes the edge off the nerves. It's not hand/finger-centric though.

KevinM In my attempts in the YONC thread I did no prep at all. I just sat down and played.

Same.

iternabe Penelope Roskell has a set of warm up routines that's done without a piano. You can look it up. I will PM you links to her video demonstrations from her book "The Complete Pianist".

Oh that sounds interesting! I like what I know of her work, thank you!

iternabe

Penelope Roskell has a set of warm up routines that's done without a piano. You can look it up. I will PM you links to her video demonstrations from her book "The Complete Pianist".

pianoloverus

ShiroKuro @pianoloverus I wouldn't want to "play" on a table, nothing that's not forgiving.

Unless you smash your hands down much harder than you would when playing the piano or with incorrect technique there's no problem about a table being unforgiving. One of the early exercises done by Russian piano student beginners Is to play on the closed fallboard. I believe they do this so can get the correct feeling of using arm weight when playing without being concerned about hitting the correct notes. And a game played by some conservatory students consists of playing a piece on the table and another person has to guess the piece.

ShiroKuro

BTW I guess I should add, not just how to warm up the fingers, but how to warm up the brain (which was another thing discussed in the YONC thread).

Before I start to play, I have a sort of "mental routine" that includes hearing the music in my mind. When I do this well, I find that my tempo is better.

But please share if you have any other brain warm up ideas!

twocats

I would definitely play the music in my mind. If there's a piece I tend to start at the wrong tempo I usually mentally play a later section that helps to lock in the tempo better, and apply it to the beginning.

If my hands are cold, I run them under hot water and I'd wiggle them around to get the blood moving.

ShiroKuro

pianoloverus to play on the closed fallboard.

I know that some teachers talk about this. I never do it, and I don't intend to. I'm sure there are other things I can do instead.

KevinM

I was just wondering, would listening to one of your own recordings at the tempo you would like to play help. Perhaps think about your fingers doing the movements while listening might help.

ShiroKuro

KevinM ooh I like those ideas. Especially bc the. staring tempo often ends up as a make or break element!

Jane

Wear winter or driving gloves for an hour.

BartK

I don't really have any advice for physically warming up. Before any kind of activity that stresses me out like an exam or a customer presenation I just try to mentally zone out and not think about anything. Maybe meditation can help.

ranjit

Running hands and wrists under warm water.
Brisk walking
Listening to the music in your head
Listening to familiar recordings

ShiroKuro

ranjit Running hands and wrists under warm water.

This is one thing I haven’t done. I should try it at home and see if it helps.

Brisk walking, or going up and down several flights of stairs to get out of breath, is something I do and I find it helps.

pseudonym58

One trick that Pete Seeger used to use before performing on banjo:
With each hand, touch the tip of your thumb to each of the fingertips repeatedly at various speeds. It's a very slight stretching motion and increases the blood circulation. If your hands are cold, put them in your pockets first to warm them up.

ShiroKuro

thanks @TheBoringPianist

TheBoringPianist Starting with a piece that's a little more forgiving can also help you settle into a performance

This is always my preference, but at the jury, we only play one piece! 🙁