Hey Guys and Gals,

Just one quick question.

I lift weights about 2-3 days a week. Not much at all(I only bench about 30 pounds). Yes I'm a guy, but I don't care if I'm weak. I don't expect to become a bodybuilder either. I'm only lifting to stay in shape.

Anyway, this shouldn't have any affect on my hands right?

I know that in the begining stages of playing there is alot going on in the brain and fingers. Since I'm using my hands for two different activities I thought this might affect the neural pathways somehow.

Thanks for reading my post.

Douglas.

I lift weights every other day broken down into 2 body parts per day. (Chest/tricep), (Back/bicep), (Shoulders/legs).

I have done this routine for decades. As a result, my hands are very powerful. So are my fingers. This allows me much greater control over every individual finger which I like. I also have very wide hands. Nothing freeky, just size XL gloves.

I do have a challenge however and that is I tend to overplay...a.k.a "pound" the keys unless I try not to.

This can be an emotion killer when performing a delicate piece. You see, I am so used to using my hands in such a powerful manner (lifting rocks, picking up heavy objects, weight lifting etc) that it can feel almost awkward when trying to use them in a delicate manner.

It doesn't sound like you have a "too powerful" fingering problem nor would the lightweight lifting you are doing affect this much.

You may have a natural body type known as an ectomorph (naturally skinny/lean) and probably will not put on too much muscle from a lightweight training regimin. You will however positively gain from working out with weights (especially if you follow my simple routine) as you will gain both more strength and control over your muscles.

Definitely keep it up.

Even if you are bodybuilder it shouldn't affect your playing. They are completely different activities and the brain should/can differentiate between lifting weights and pressing individual fingers into the keys.

I'd recommend keeping up with the weight lifting but be mindful that you don't feel any 'bad' pain. If you are lifting enough weight you will feel the lactic acid in the muscles the next day, but there shouldn't be any sharp or sudden pains.

As for the neurons/synapses thing, yes, it will have a great effect, but probably not directly in correlation with making you a better player. Weight lifting will be great for the body, but it won't be a substitution of any sort for the repetitions and subtle finger movements that make up learning proper technique on the piano.

The only caution that I could think of is to mix certain martial arts with playing the piano. I'd be careful about anything that could damage the hand or tendons in the forearm, but really don't think proper weight lifting falls into that category.

Yep. I'll agree with S.H. here and chime in that lifting weights shouldn't be a problem for your hands.

Not that I'd ever entertain such a thing as lifting weights, I'll bet there's a way to do it with loose wrists.

You'll be fine. Some people lift more in groceries than you do in weights!

I was just thinking about this recently. I have been playing the piano steady and frequently for about a year and a half now.

In the last year I lost 50 pounds. No noticeable change in my ability to play the piano. However, when I began weight lifting more seriously in the last few months, I have noticed that I have much more stamina at the piano.

In other words, the core training that squats, rows and bench press do for you will certainly only help your piano playing.

Although my forearms are larger than they were three months ago, I have not noticed any difference in my ability to control dynamics other than the slight improvement you would expect from normal practice.

Oh and like everyone else says, don't worry about coordination, if anything, the two different activities will compliment each other. I know that my left hand is definitely more coordinated for everyday tasks since i began to really play the piano.

In general it shouldn't matter, but you want to avoid bulking up too much in the forearm, as that will tend to squeeze the tendons there needed for playing and slow things down a bit.

If you don't over do it you will be fine.

To Morodiene's point, on days that I do extensive grip work, I can barely hold a bottle of water when I'm done, so playing piano those nights is a challenge. Also on days I do extensive shoulder work outs, it is difficult to lift my arms to the keys.

I had an argument a few years ago with someone who was already a trained musician as well as having lifted weights. From that vantage point he said that strength is not necessary (heck, he had the strength and the skill). It seems to me that when you are generally weak and unfit you will strain to do something, while if you have some strength you can let go.

I lift heavy weights and have never had a problem with it affecting my playing. The fact that my playing sucks is a different story altogether....but even doing a lot of grip work and wrist work doesnt really affect playing an instrument.

Otherwise, I tend to agree with what the others have written.

Remember to stretch!

.... my 2 cents is having strong hands, fingers, wrist, will lesson the chance of pain, which could come from the repetition of piano playing.

Good point, I could see that, but as long as you aren't trying to be Arnold Schwarzenegger and/or aren't taking steroids, I think no one should have to worry about that. I mean I don't really know anything about tendons being squeezed but I'd imagine you have to be pretty freakishly large for it to have any significant effect.



Yeah, I wouldn't be able to play very well directly after a workout when everything is all swollen and worn out either.

Muscle mass isn't really all that important in playing except in perhaps larger repertoire (late Romantic, etc.). It's more the tendons that have to be strong. Remember, piano is about velocity to get volume, not necessarily strength/power.

However, if the person isn't bulking up too much, then I agree it shouldn't be a problem. And, of course, not trying to practice after exercising.

Be careful not to eat spinach before you play. You might end up with a pile of wires and splinters!

nothing, yet

Lifting weights doesn't make you play any better than hanging weights down there makes it any bigger.

oops, wrong thread

Thomas, are you speaking from personal experience? =)