A millionaire was once asked: “How do you become more productive?â€
He answered: “Work out.â€
We are pianists (or aspiring pianists) and art is our realm – but this doesn’t change the essence of the most effective productivity/health/self-confidence secret of all times: working out will transform you, your attitude, your belief system, your piano playing habits, your personal and professional achievements and the overall quality of your life!
Most pianists are unaware of this universal truth. They focus 100% on their practice, spending many hours per day at the piano – and they work hard, often sacrificing their health (especially the straightness of their spine) for achieving their musical goals.
I have great news: Things don’t have to be this hard and boring! Becoming a good pianist is not easy – but it can be fun, enjoyable and tension-free! All you need is a change of perspective: understanding that musicians don’t have to be slouching geeks or fragile mademoiselles - they can and should be fit, strong and healthy warriors, inspiring their audience, bringing them light, positive energy and motivation!
This is the first episode from a series of workout tutorials designed especially for pianists – an easy yet very effective warm-up routine for our fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders.
Video highlights:
1. A few words about breathing. 0.36
2. Wrist flexibility – exercise complex. 0.59
3. Wrist stretches. 2.59
4. Jiu-Jitsu arm and wrist twists. 3.37
5. Thumb-to-forearm wrist stretches 4.50
6. Finger warm-up 5.10
7. Elbow warm-up 5.47
8. Shoulder warm-up – exercise combo. 6.15
9. An easy and effective arm massage. 9.23
10. A little spine stretching! 9.51
11. … in the next episode… 10.39
I decided to dedicate the first episode to our arms and wrists because we ARE pianists 
, and also because this is the easiest part of a holistic whole-body warm-up that I do every day and that helps me to stay in shape and feel awesome!
My intention is to share all the elements of this warm-up step-by-step, according to their difficulty level – so that you’ll be able to integrate them in your daily routine gradually, in a comfortable painless manner 
.
In the next episode we are going to focus on our spine – and I’m going to show you a very useful warm-up and stretching routine that will help you to improve your posture and get rid of back, neck and shoulder pain!
The next workout tutorials will be available only for the members of my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com.
Join this program and get instant access to hundreds of detailed exclusive piano playing tutorials that reveal the secrets of the Russian piano school via my holistic approach on piano playing, music and lifestyle! On the Private Members Forum you’ll also be able to ask me ANY piano question, anytime, and receive personalized, detailed, professional piano advice!
And one more thing:
Piano playing is not a unilateral mind-finger-instrument activity.
It is an amazing holistic experience that incorporates spirit, mind, body and emotions. Working out on a regular basis will help you to harmonize all these aspects of your existence, at the same time compensating those long hours of static piano practice. The result? The new-found balance will inevitably reflect in the quality of your piano playing!
Many new articles and video tutorials are coming soon on PianoCareer.com. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Google + (and now also on Pinterest!) to get instant updates, support and motivation!
thanx,
You’re welcome!
As someone who has experienced some elbow discomfort after practicing, I have found that some simple stretching exercises have really helped. I looked forward to trying your more comprehensive stretching routine. Thank you so much!
Hi Mary!
You’re welcome – and thank you for your comment!
This was GREAT Ilinca!! really enjoyed and can’t wait to try it out myself!
April.
Thank you, April!
Thank you so much for this! Is there anyway you could write it out with photos, so I can print it, to do at school? It’s brilliant, and I’ve tried it – it really helps keep practice tension free!
Hi Meg!
You’re welcome – I’m really happy that you liked my warm-up!
Presenting each exercise with pictures is a brilliant idea – but unfortunately this would require lots of time!
If I find the time, I will post the next workouts in a video+pictures format (they will be available for the members of my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com).
Thank you for your comment and have an enjoyable practice!
Ilinca
Hi Ilinca
Im not sure if I’m posting on the right page but I need help with playing arpeggios. I don’t know if you have a video for this or an article, I haven’t found anything related to this topic.
my problem is “the wrist’s position” while playing them. previous teachers have told me I must not twist my wrist but rather try to ascend and descend by using the arm, and so I do. however, in playing arpeggios I can’t find a way for my thumb to move/leap an octave (under the other fingers) and keep my wrist straight at the same time.
my hands, fingers, arms and shoulders are totally relaxed and have good elasticity too but I still cant manage.
can you kindly help me with this?
Many thanx
Hi!
As a matter of fact, there are many detailed video tutorials dedicated to this exact problem on the Private Members Forum at PianoCareerAcademy.com!
There I demonstrate how to keep your wrist when playing scales and arpeggios: you definitely don’t need to keep it ‘straight’ – especially when performing thumb crossings! It should not ‘twist’ either – here your teachers were perfectly right. Instead, your wrist should be flexible – and anticipate the layout of the arpeggio. It’s difficult to explain this technique in words – watching the videos would be much more useful!
Another important thing to keep in mind is the correct thumb position and functionality. Here the wrist plays a key role – being flexible and going slightly upwards each time we perform a thumb-under crossing. You can find many videos on this subject as well on PianoCareerAcademy.com – there I show in detail how to perform thumb crossings in playing different types of scales, arpeggios and pieces.
It’s great that you’re keeping your arms relaxed! From what you wrote it seems to me that now you have to concentrate on improving your wrist technique.
In the Russian piano school, we don’t call wrist movements ‘rotations’, ‘twisting’ or ‘ascending and descending’. Instead, as I said above, we use the term flexibility: the wrist is totally loose and relaxed, anticipating the texture, structure and specific ‘layout’ of the musical text. This helps us in thumb crossings and hand position changes – being also the most important thing when it comes to tone quality and expressiveness (not to mention the fact that a flexible wrist is the best antidote against tension and the resulting pain!).
Good luck and have an enjoyable weekend!
Ilinca
I just joined your academy. Im exited to start studying your methods.
thanx for your help, c u soon.
I’m now creating your PianoCareerAcademy.com account! See you really soon on the forum!
Hi Ilinca
Great video, so helpful!!!
you’re very generous
tnx for sharing
Thank you, Liziane!