When I play the piano, I usually do a bit of scales, a few Hanon pieces I can play from memory to get my fingers moving. I am an adult player, and do not take lessons, so I just play when I have the time for fun. I tell my daughter (age 10) that she has to warm up before she starts practising pieces set by her teacher, but she HATES scales. So did I until I saw the point of mastering scales - scales are everywhere! But this love of scales come in late in your life I think... Do you have any routine warm-up, and what do you do to warm up?

My warm-up is litterally that. I always wash my hands (for a few minutes) in fairly hot water (also helps keep the keys clean!) Especially recommended in winter if the central heating is on low.

My current warmup routine is also a practice routine and comprises mainly runs which I am having difficulty with, or the runs in a piece I am going to practice in more depth a little later. Currently, it is passages from the 1st movement of the Patheique sonata and the opening section of the 3rd movement of the Moonlight!

Mole

This.. I find it impossible to play anything on the piano with cold hands! I don't do any other sort of warm up... maybe I should...

Yes, agreed...can't play piano with cold hands.

Then I:
*Play a few of the Czerny pieces from the 100 recreations series. Some of these are lovely pieces and are long enough to get the fingers moving;

* play the scale of whatever key the piece I'm playing is in;

*pull out any areas of the piece that are causing a stumbling block and play them until I'm happier with it;

*Make sure the cat and neighbours are out of earshot;

*Play!