I've once heard from somewhere about a year or two ago that bowling can help keep your fingers limber and wrists strong, which can in turn help you piano playing abilities. Is this true or just something that was going around that as a rumor? If it is true, I'm sure that other activities must do the same thing as well? I really like bowling, but thats a whole other subject.

to tell the truth, i wouldn't have a clue!!

maybe it is true?? where did you hear it!?

hope it is, because i to have a good grip at bowling, and some extra piano techniques (well, for strength anyway!) would be great!

good-luck in finding out!
take care...

it could be true... all my friends who play piano do bowl quite often as well...

Since one usually bowls with his/her dominant hand, would this not strengthen/loosen only one hand to the detriment of the other? I don't know; it just seemed like a reasonable question since most righthanders need to work more on their left in strength and dexterity for piano? (Is dexterity in the left hand an oxymoron since dexter is Latin for right? btw the Latin word for left is sinister.)

Er ... I don't know about that. During the time I was taking piano lessons, I was also on a junior bowling league (the 11-and under crowd, oooh rah) and for some reason, I was having a lot of problems with finger swelling, especially with the right middle finger. I eventually stopped the bowling league since I could get no better than 132 without a handicap (a perfect game is 300).

Of course now, many moons later, whenever there is a change in the weather, I feel a little ache in the first joint of my right middle finger. Not sure if I can attribute that to bowling, but I generally do anyway.

if don't know if piano helps bowling or vice versa, but all I can say is I went out the other weekend and bowled a 170 without playin for years! :)(sorry, I just had to brag i'm really proud of myself!) But anyways, I bowled for quite a while and afterwards my fingers and wrists did not feel very good at all!

Maybe bowling could be good for your hands. Just don't drop the ball on your hands or your pedaling foot! haha

Bowling! Ha! The only way to get better piano technique is at the piano, and these other things that look like they may make your fingers or wrist stronger and more flexible can actually do the opposite, those bowling balls can do quite some damage to the finger muscle if used incorrectly I would think!

Mozart is said to have composed his 'Kegelstatt' trio for piano, clarinet and cello in a skittle hall. So perhaps it will improve your compositional skills as well.