Open Thread: How to Keep Your Hands Warm?
Some of us experience extremely cold hands before a performance.
I don’t do anything other than keep my hands tucked under my armpits. I have friends that swear by, “hot hands,” and I know people that wear gloves right until they walk on on stage.
How do you deal with cold hands?
Josh Sager - Fretterverse.com
I stretch my fingers out a lot and keep them tucked in my pits. Not a whole heck of a lot you can do when your mitts are chilly!
Brandon
It seems to me anytime I am nervous our anxious I have this issue (stress = constriction of blood vessels = lower circulation = cold hands). The most effective thing that I have found is to deliberately focus on releasing tension in my body and breathing full, steady breaths. Physically relaxing helps me to not only lose some of the shaking in my hands, but also get’s circulation going again – which in turn helps out with the cold problem.
chris jeknins
“Hot hands” seems to help quite a bit. I hold the pack until just before I play, usually in my right hand, which seems to be the one effected by the cold.
Also, I drink ginger herb tea. Ginger tea helps you to feel warm and helps with circulation.
-chris
Bradford Werner
Circulation! Stretches and running up and down stairs (maybe not right before going on stage but a little before.
Also, eating something often warms me up. I think the proper thing to eat is bananas as the potassium calms you as well.
Saei
hi chris
i used to do some simple warm up before performing.for example before i arrived to my class in car i do simple warm up.
Max
It’s been well documented that Canadian pianist Glenn Gould and even Segovia used to request a sink in their dressing rooms. Before each performance they would fill the sink with warm water (in Gould’s case hot) and soak their hands and forearms for 10-15 minutes.
I can attest as a former pianist that soaking up to the forearms just before playing works well. All the tendons and muscles that lead to the hands are just as important and it really makes one limber.
Other things my friends have tried are everything from wool/fur gloves that extend to the forearms to even searching out the heater vent of where ever they’re playing and placing their arms on it until just before going on stage! That’s funny when you need to find someone before going on stage and they are in some basement furnace room or a supply closet warming up their hands.
Ernesto Schnack
This is a problem that plagues me, my hands get cold very easily…pretty much in any weather other than full-on summer.
At home I’ve started using a blow dryer to warm up my hands and it works really well. I’ve been pondering on taking it to gigs…
Majorshake
i warm up for 10-15 minutes. gets the blood flowing back to my hands, and helps me play better.
Alex
Soaking your hands and forearms in really warm water is definately a good way to properly warm up your hands. This makes your fingernails a little bit more pliable too which I find helps out your tone!
connie
you could try those pocket hand warmers that skiiers use- i’ve found this is really helpful.
david anderson
Try the small but effective electronic, rechargeable hand warmer. It heats to 104F, and it feels great, like pouring hot bathwater over your hands. Not hot enough to burn, but, warm enough to feel great, even in very cold weather, like subzero! This unit recharges hundreds of times, and will last a long time. Much cheaper and more effective than the disposable units.
Take a look at http://www.palmwarmer.com.