Preparing Your Hands for a Performance
There was an old Seinfeld episode – ‘The Pez Dispenser’ – where Jerry and company debated about how George’s pianist girlfriend warmed up before a concert. Jerry quipped, “What, do you think they just crack their knuckles and come out?”Actually, for some pianists, knuckle-cracking is part of a warm-up routine – not because it’s beneficial to their playing, but because it has simply become habit. Not doing so would be a distraction.But most pianists rely on the old standbys: arpeggios, scales, and other various warm-ups; and in addition to keeping fingers agile and ready for motion, there are a few more tricks you might want to keep up your sleeve for recital day:
Do keep hands warm for a performance. If the venue is cold, stay by a heat source, or keep your hands warm in your pockets or clenched together.
Do keep fingernails short and trimmed, and care for painful cuticles before recital day.
Do make sure bandages do not prevent hand, arm, or finger flexibility.
Don’t let sweaty hands make you slip up. Keep some body powder handy if you’re prone to sweaty palms.
Don’t wear loose bracelets; large rings that may rotate between fingers, or jewelry that can reflect bright lights into your eyes during play.
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