STAYING POWER THE RIGHT WAY TO BUILD STAMINA

When we take up the piano, perhaps the last thing on our minds is how to sustain the mental and physical energy we’ll need to play longer, more challenging pieces. Stamina will mean something subtly different for each of us: For a conservatoire student it could mean honing an hour or more’s music so that it is ready to gush out as a single convincing event. For the amateur learner, stamina may well function to a lesser degree at first, though adult players in particular need to know how to build stamina while preventing tension. Just as is the case with someone preparing for an athletic event, stamina is hard won and needs to be nurtured gradually. Unlike the athlete, a pianist’s level of physical stamina won’t necessarily be visible to others (though it will probably be audible), except of course for signs of exhaustion or tension.