Dealing With Cold Weather

Winter is here. What are your solutions to battling stiff cold winter fingers? I've heard someone tell me they apply some warming lubricant to their knuckles and joints. Also... Is it considered healthy for your bones and joints to be active if they are cold and stiff?

Hi and welcome to the forum! Mine is called rakija! A serbian plum brandy. The recommended dose is 1 shot before a recital, exam... It works! The high level of alcohol helps better blood circulation.

What sort of warming lubricant? If it was externally applied I don't see what good it would do. As for playing when you are cold, there were whole winters during the war years at our Academy when there was no heating at all. I remember practicing many times in an overcoat and cutoff gloves. Beginning was the worst: not only was the air freezing but the keys themselves were like ice! But strangely enough, after a few minutes of fast scales, my body heat would be transferred through my fingers to the keys and they would actually warm up. And if I continued to play without a break, after a short while I was completely unaware of the cold. One time I was discussing some passage from the Chopin G minor Ballade with Kemal and he sat down and played the whole thing - at speed, brilliantly and flawlessly - in a completely unheated room on a completely cold piano, without any warmup whatsoever. He didn't seem to suffer any ill effects either... So to my mind, the best warming lubrication is your own inspiration, dedication and inner energetic mobilization! Merry Christmas! AFF