I just did an hour's piano practice and my hands are still like ice blocks. I did about half scales etc, only then moving on to pieces, but it didn't make any difference - well I suppose they were warmer than when I started but they still feel cold inside (ie I still feel chilly round my fingers) and objectively they're still cold against my face.

I put this in general music as it seems to happen whatever instrument I play... I know it's cold today and it isn't exactly boiling in my house, but surely it should take THIS long to warm my hands up - especially considering I had been typing straight before that, and writing in between bits of typing...

How long does it take you guys to warm your hands up?

A very chilly Sarah........

I soak mine in hot water for a few minutes before I start. It makes a big difference.

I've tried that - it makes a difference, but not much and not for long. Actually I sometimes go as far as soaking my hands in hot water and rubbing epsom salts into them - I figure it'll relax my muscles as much as soaking them and the friction will help them get warm! But my hands don't seem to retain the heat, they're cold again within minutes. Which is a bit of a pain on any instrument

My hands are never warm - and I hate playing the flute with cold hands, they just feel so unwilling to move and horrible.

Me too - feels like playing through treacle

You'd think a whole hour of piano practice would make them at least lukewarm....

And they feel sort of stretched and uncomfortable. I don't know what it is!

I have some hand warmers, they're like cushions you put in the microwave...but we have no microwave. Also, you can get like gel patches which heat up, maybe you could try one of those

On the contrary, I find that the more I play the colder they get. (So i guess you could see it as a sign that you've done enough practise today ). I usually hold my hands under my sweater for a while when I get really cold and that works temporarily.

Surely only if the ambient temperature is low? As you're using/exercising your hands. Hence why people warm up their hands (or try to) before playing...

Hmm, not really. I really find that my hands get colder when I play the piano a lot. Of course when the environment is warmer, they will get less cold than when it is cold but I always experience some change. I know from a lot of pianist that they experience the same. And programmers for that matter, it also happens to me when I'm typing a lot. I don't understand it either, as you said I would expect that the exercise will make them warmer but that is not my experience.

A recommended exercise, which may or may not be apocryphal, is to do circular arm swings with the arms out straight to encourage blood flow to the fingers .

It makes my arms tired

So, I'll have warm hands but a wonky flute!

Honestly, you want to eat your cake and have it don't you .

As usual, if symptoms persist, consult a qualified medical practitioner .

I get this too, it's most irksome. Arm circles sound good.

Yes I do Am feeling fiesty after your retaliations in CISD

I just have bad circulation. My feet are cold, ALL the time...often go blue and things

It can vary, Basically, my hands are a similar temperature to their environment. If it is cold in the room, no matter how much I play, my hands will be cold.

I know this sounds barbaric but you need to put your hands in cold water! Same with cold feet. It's suppose to get the circulation buzzing and warm you up. Having said that I haven't tried it because I prefer being too cold to being to hot but it's worth a shot.

Try having a hot drink - I read somewhere that in women if the body ie trunk is cold, the body withdraws heat from the outer extremeties eg hands/feet to help to keep the vital organs (including the womb etc) warm - which doesn't happen to the same extent in a man as they don't carry young....... I may be wrong of course but it's worth a try - if your body is warm generally your fingers may stay warmer.

I had a lovely old piano teacher when I was a kid who used to give me a cup of tea and a biscuit when I arrived at her house on cold days. That always seemed to do the trick.

I always find with the viola that my left hand gets cold and my right hand stays warm.

YESSSSSSSS, exactly! that's what I do! as your hands are cold, you don't feel very much the cold water, but you make them even colder. Then your brain says "alert, alert, something in the body is very cold" and fastly sends lots of blood there. In a few moments, your hands warm.

Works 100%

Yours sincerely,

-LO, the constantly-cold-hands violinist.

Interesting explanation, LO! I don't think it actually works like that!

Graphic description...

I may try it sometime........ thanks for the ideas everyone

Try it, and you will hear your brain saying "alert, alert"

I am sure

I'll try it next time and see. If it doesn't work, LO, you owe my wife and I a personal-guided tour when we come to Spain!!!

That's already promised from my side, even if your hands become warm!

I know - but my practice room is FREEZING

I always get cold hands if I go into church for an organ practise during the week, as no heating is on.
I either sit on them for a minute, or............ dare I say it, put them down my trousers !

My teacher suggested before that I should dip my hands in some warm water.. It just makes things worse!
It is such a nightmare when you play Hanon exercices with cold hands.

I usually do with piano Especially if I'm practicing two hands separately. Otherwise I run them under warm water Or wear my fingerless gloves if I'm playing in the church

Isn't it the Hyperthalamus (sp) Fred??