Printer-friendly version

Warming up

From Branden Taylor
Posted June 13, 2012 at 06:25 AM

Even with limited time, Fischer's book could be good--you just don't do it all every day. I have 90 min. max (2 45-min. sessions, while I'm rehabbing my shoulder). I do 1-2 scales, different each day, pre-determined sections of etudes, that sort of thing.

But the walk and stretch are essential, esp. if I practice first thing in the morning, as I tend to have to do on work days.

Of course, there are no absolutes, and so I agree that some stretches are helpful BEFORE practice, and some "cool-downs" are important after practice, stretching being one form of cool-down.

Here is a video I prepared for my students on warming up. (not to divert you from this site, but it's a pretty helpful video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRllkps3WKk

--Lora

It is free online.

I don't do the whole cycle everyday, but a few exercises get the job done. The various fourths exercises are *especially* fantastic.

Never trust what you "have been reading". You do not need to warm up before practice at all in fact. Why should you need? Do you warm up before driving your car? Before cooking a dinner?

Branden, I really believe it is the same as with many other jobs and activities. Did you ever feel you are not warmed up enough for driving a car? Maybe not, but I did. Last time I set out for the long journey on winding road during quite heavy traffic. But my head was still full of my job, I was still in my workshop mentally. I really felt that it would be dangeors to start by my usual tempo. This is why I simply decided to accept the the speed of the convoy, for about 15 minutes and so. I became concentrated during this time and I was able the overtake safely than. Anyway, I did not turn to the rest area and I did not not practice any driving excercies like in driving school. I simply warmed up during my way.

It is the same with violin playing. If one focus on the warming up, his/her play becomes more and more mechanical. Playing is about feelings primarily. You can memory the great feeling of your playing skills at the and of the day before you put the violin to the case. You can recall this feeling of effortlessness next morning again. It really works. Try it.
Recently I mentioned my experience with "warming up dependence" in my book about stage fright. I have to admit, I was also taught such a wrong way and I spent a lot of time to help my conservatory students to get rid of it later.
Believe me, you need to make nor any special excercises, neither even play scales at the beginning of the practice session. If you want to play scales, play them whan you are already fully warmed up to be able (sure) to play them correctly and with care.
As for the "waring up" at the beginning of your practicing session, simply choose rather easier reportoire, a bit slower tempo if necesary, maybe limit your dynamic ragne a bit for the first minutes in order to start playing relaxed right from the beginning.