Warming up before playing the piano is like stretching before a workout—it helps prevent injury, improves flexibility, and sets you up for a great practice session. Whether you’re getting ready for a concert, a rehearsal, or just a casual play-through of your favorite pieces, a few simple warm-ups can make a big difference.
Here are five warm-up exercises that will help you play with more ease, control, and confidence.
1. Finger Independence & Strength – Hanon Exercises
Hanon exercises are a classic for a reason. They’re great for building finger strength, agility, and evenness, and they help keep your hands in shape.
To start, try Hanon Exercise No. 1 at a slow and steady tempo, focusing on keeping each note even. As you get comfortable, gradually increase the speed while keeping your hands relaxed. For some variation, you can play them staccato, legato, or with different dynamics to challenge your control.
💡 Tip: Hanon exercises can feel repetitive, so limit them to five minutes to avoid overworking your hands.
2. Wrist & Arm Relaxation – Scales with Rotation
Scales are another essential warm-up, but the key is to focus on wrist and arm relaxation while playing them. Try playing major and minor scales hands together, making sure your thumb crossings are smooth and your wrists aren’t stiff.
Experiment with different speeds, dynamics, and articulations. Playing contrary motion scales (where your hands move in opposite directions) is also a great way to warm up coordination.
💡 Tip: If your wrists start feeling tight, shake out your hands and take a quick break. Relaxation is key!
3. Finger Control & Dexterity – Five-Finger Exercises
Five-finger exercises are a simple but powerful way to strengthen individual fingers and improve articulation. A good one to try is playing C-D-E-F-G and back down in different keys, making sure each note is even and controlled.
To keep things interesting, try adding some crescendo and decrescendo, or play with different rhythms like dotted or swung notes.
💡 Tip: Keep your fingers close to the keys and avoid unnecessary lifting—this helps with efficiency and speed later on.
4. Hand Coordination & Fluidity – Arpeggios
Arpeggios are great for warming up hand coordination, finger flexibility, and wrist movement. Start with major and minor arpeggios hands together, paying attention to smooth thumb crossings.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try playing arpeggios in broken form or in different inversions to challenge your technique even further.
💡 Tip: Keep a steady tempo and don’t rush! Playing arpeggios with control at a slower speed is more beneficial than playing them too fast and unevenly.
5. Power & Precision – Octaves & Chords
If you’re about to play a piece that involves a lot of big chords or octaves, it’s a good idea to warm up your hands and arms beforehand. Start with slow, legato octaves, making sure your wrist stays loose.
Gradually increase the tempo and dynamic range, and mix in some staccato octaves to work on wrist flexibility. Practicing broken chord progressions can also help improve hand movement and accuracy.
💡 Tip: Avoid tension—your arms should feel engaged but never stiff. Think of bouncing lightly off the keys rather than forcing the sound.
Final Thoughts
A good warm-up routine doesn’t have to be long or boring—just 10-15 minutes of focused exercises can make a huge difference in your playing. Try switching things up based on what your repertoire requires. If you’re working on fast runs, spend extra time on scales. If your piece has big chords and octaves, focus on wrist flexibility.
And most importantly, have fun with it! Warming up should feel like a way to ease into playing, not a chore.
Do you have a favorite warm-up exercise? Let me know—I’d love to hear what works for you! 🎹
NATALYA PLAYS PIANO 
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