Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Prepping for Practice, Part 1 (Stretching the Body)

WHY STRETCH??

We must stretch our body in order to prepare for the main part of our practice time. I'm interested in efficient practicing (easy and fast)...and in order for the work on our pieces to be the best and most productive, we need to get our body and mind fully prepared! (You would never run a 3 mile race without stretching for 10-15 minutes, would you? Just because piano practicing works smaller muscles doesn't mean they're not equally important to stretch!) 


HOW LONG SHOULD I STRETCH??

The amount of stretching depends on the length of your practice time! I believe that at least 10% of your practice time should be spent on stretching (5 minutes for 30-45 minutes...10 minutes for 60 minutes)

This does not include working on scales, arpeggios, and other etudes that you are currently in the process of learning, or are simply not quite mastered...


A SIMPLE ROUTINE FOR STRETCHING THE BODY...

Neck, shoulders, and back first...

Here's a quick, effective, and easy sequence:
     --Neck:  Turn your head slowly from side to side, holding on each side for 5 seconds, repeat 3 times
     --Neck:  Bring chin to sternum, then look at the ceiling, hold on each point for 5 seconds, repeat 3 times
     --Neck:  Bring left ear to left shoulder, then right ear to right shoulder, hold each for 5 seconds, repeat 3 times

     --Shoulders:  Roll shoulders slowly in a forward circle, repeat 5-8 times
     --Shoulders:  Roll shoulders slowly in a backwards circle, repeat 5-8 times

     --Back: While sitting on bench, twist body to the left, starting with lower back and twist all the way through shoulders and neck placing right hand on left outer thigh to assist with stretch, then repeat on other side...hold each for 5-8 seconds, repeat 2 times
     --Back: While standing, touch toes (or as close as possible) with non-locked knees (IMPORTANT: Do not PUSH yourself down...rather, let gravity pull you down...hold for 10 seconds

Then move to arms, wrists, fingers...

     --Arms: Stretch right arm across your body using left hand on outside of right upper arm to assist with stretch, then repeat on other side...hold for 10 seconds on each side

     --Wrists: Bring right hand up, bending at wrist, using left hand to assist, then repeat on other side...5-8 seconds each (IMPORTANT: Be very easy on your wrists...they are delicate!!)
     --Wrists: Bring right hand down, bending at wrist, using left hand to assist, then repeat on other side...5-8 seconds each

     --Fingers: Scales and arpeggios are great stretches for your fingers. Play very slowly (1 beat per second) and very loudly, making sure to use your fingers, not your wrists...keep wrists neutral and not stiff...raise each finger as high as you can before bringing them down onto the key (IMPORTANT: You should only use scales and arpeggios that you are VERY comfortable with and do not need to "think" about while doing...the point here is simply getting your finger and hand muscles (and tendons) moving

The next post will deal with preparing the mind for the practice session...

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