A millionaire was once asked: “How do you become more productive?”
He answered: “Work out.”
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!
If you enjoyed this free online piano lesson, here are some other piano learning and practice topics you’ll like:
No Time to Practice? 5 Powerful Solutions for Lack of Time
The life-changing benefits of learning classical music
Why I sometimes ‘stray’ from the musical text in my tutorials: a holistic investigation
No piano? How to practice anywhere
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