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Anyone have a remedy for dry hands? My fingers slip all over the place because of extensive dryness and it's terrible for fast passages. They start to build a bit of moisture after an hour of continuous practice and that's when I play my best. I've tried hand cream, which is only temporary relief. Using my breath to heat up the hands and to create moisture doesn't work well either.

I have the same problem in the winter when it is very dry. For me, hand cream does work; I apply it every time I sit down at the piano or I can't do runs or fast passages at all. Would it help to apply it more often? Or perhaps try a different brand?


Laura

I was hoping for a more permanent fix, or some really smart trick, like keeping a slightly wet hankerchief and dampen your hands before the performance. To make matters worse, I'm on a Roland digital with the Ivory imitation material, and it's so slippery. I may try a new hand cream, I'm just worried because I have a a wedding to play at in a month and may not get time to warm up properly. The moisture really lets your get a nice, firm grip over the keys and gives you so much control.

i have extremely dry skin as well and have the same problem. i use skin lotion, my wife told me cetaphil is the best for what i need. apply it, let it sit on your skin and then wipe off the excess after several minutes, if there is any.

for the long term fix you may want to look into increasing your fruit and veggie intake and most inportantly omega three oils as a suppliment, Udo's oil brand is the best. READ THE DIRECTIONS.

of course if there is an aversion to taking a tablespoon of oil then just do what my sicilian uncle does, pour olive oil on everything.

I use a rosin bag. (like some bowlers do to help grip the ball)

Holy, bowlers use that too. Why didn't i think of it. Thunder grip! Also, thanks for the omega three tip and good thing I love olive oil.

Yes, had that same problem.

There is always the advice given, wash your hands before playing the piano and I did so.
No thats nice for some minutes but then it becomes worse.
The problem was much more evident with synthetics keys that are made from PVC or ABS. It is less evident with my Kawai wooden keyboard. I think the surface is acryl, ok, also synthetic, but less slippery.

But I found my way around it:

1. Hand lotion. I found a brand that worked for me: "Iseree Hand creme". That is advertised to maintain the moisture. It is available here in Germany in Lidl markets.
I think, the most important ingredient is glycerine. Glycerine is water soluble and hygroscopic. So after washing the hands it must be reapplied.

2. Nowadays I use this creme only seldom. I have to wash my hands at work quite often. I always used soap.
It improved a lot when I avoided soap for a week or so and only use it when absolutely necessary. After some time the skin was improved and less dry.

Peter

Haven't I heard something about using hair spray on the keys to make them a little stickier?

Might be a Horowitz story? ????

haha, hairspray....

I do understand why washing your hands won't help. When the moisture on the outer skin evaporates, it actually takes away the existing moisture from your skin. Lotion keeps the water in your skin from evaporating, that's after washing it's a good idea to apply a layer of lotion. Of course, the best is still natural sweat, but that takes a while to build up!

I'm curious about the rosin, even the hairspray. Good thing I have some rosin from my violin, going to give that a try, hope it provides a good, fast result. If that doesn't work, I will see if the Horowitz story is true.

Keeping your fists clenched (with the thumb inside) for a good 15-20 minutes before you start playing will usually moisten them up.

And, yeah, do not wash your hands -- as that's what I do when they don't feel dry enough.

Personally, on an acoustic piano, I would not want the build up of hand lotion.

That's certainly a very viable concern.

Regards,

I have used chalk sometimes, but I am afraid to turn the black keys white. Does Rosin leave any residue?

I have heard the story of the hairspray applied to the keyboard, but attributed to Rubinstein who also seemed to like dirty keyboards: gave him "better traction". ??


Uncle George

I've used hair spray on my finger tips; not on the keys.

Your skin is extremely delicate, and needs care. Most people horribly neglect their skin.

I take a multivitamin everyday, and drink about 2 litres of water. Those to things along will combat ALOT of skin problems. Including dryness.

I'd also recommend a very thick hand cream, and wear it with conditioning clothes on while you sleep. You'll feel abit odd, but it really does work. Then you can get lovely natural ingredient hand scrubs too. Using that once or twice a week will help.

If you gave all that a try, I think you'd see a vast improvement.

I did!

Using hand cream right after taking a shower locks the moisture in. If you put it on while your hands are still dry, it will quickly turn dry again.

I would hate getting rosin, chalk, and hand cream on my keyboard. Did you ever get cracks on your fingertips? I know some violinists have problems with that and it really hurts.

It was Rubinstein who had the same problem, at the age of 110 or so, he first, when the pianotuner had left, took some sandpaper to prepare the keys, and sprayed indeed something like hairspray over them, quite a feat...I think that the best way to prevent having dry fingertips, is to keep your hands warm at all cost, and apply some sensible cream to them, the whole time, not just in case of a performance, always!, in cold/warm, dry/humid conditions, make sure that your hands don't feel different, only other extremities, ears/nosetip. I always have 2 handkerchiefs, 1 for brushing off the keyboard, even during concerts, 1 for drying my face/hands, there should be a 3rd, to throw to the public, even if they didn't like my performance, in that case a stone would also come in handy: to wrap it up in the 3rd hanky and aim well...

"age 110"

lol, ok I really need to take better care of my heatlh..

You are right, keeping the hands at a consistent temperature seems to help tremendously, as the dryness is most apparent when say, entering an air conditioned room. I'd also aim for the one that coughed the loudest.

My finger tips don't get cracks in them, as it's built a good layer of dead skin. Even if it cracks, I probably won't be able to feel a thing haha.

Do you play guitar? I know lots of guitar players often have that layer of dead skin. What are you playing at the wedding? If it's something slow and romantic, dry hands wouldn't matter too much. A shaky pedaling foot, on the other hand...

I just remembered today about another little trick I have, although I'm not sure you want to use it in public! When my fingers start to slip, I've noticed that I quickly lick my fingertips, just like one would do when turning pages in a book. I do this while playing, without missing a beat, and it quickly, albeit temporarily, solves my problem. Might not look too good at a wedding, though!

Laura