I get bored in work and thought it would be cool if I could do some kind of practice without a piano, like rhythm for example. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Take the music you are working on, and read it away from the piano. It really helps to learn...work on "playing" the music in your head, and/or saying the names of the melody notes, etc.

Rhythm is my favorite thing to practise off the piano as well ( clapping on my legs and/or internally hearing the rhythm). Often after trips I often come back playing better due to, I suspect, solely focusing on rhythm and groove for a while.

I don't know how far down the road you are, so here are few ideas: Do some ear training with tools on the web or on an iPod/iPhone, practice sightreading, practice writing music, study theory, play "mind piano" by seeing the piano keys you are playing while recalling a song in your mind, do rhythm exercises as others have mentioned, actively listen to music you want to play, listen to a song and isolate the different instruments and see what they are doing in relation to one another (melody, harmony) study melody, harmony, composition. A lot can be done away from the piano!

John

Stepmania?



When I'm bored at work, I read and learn from this forum!

I think we should be working out.. For some pianists with the same genetic tendencies that I have, the enemy number one is "fat" around the waist line. I work at a deak and practice piano and eat in between since piano practice consumes you. I think the technique will come over time for anyone who practices constantly. I mean practice scales, arps, hannon/pishna, etc and your pieces. But I think it's really important to take care of the health as well.

Sorry, I did not read the OP well. My bad.