My other half came in from Roller Hockey training last night to find me at the piano with 2 bananas perched on my shoulders

I needed to concentrate on not lifting or tensing my shoulders in a particular section with alberti bass and thought by putting something with weight there it would remind me to play with my fingers only! And the bananas seemed to fit the bill.

It worked, although my husband was in hysterics!

Anyone else tried anything unusual?

My teacher once asked me to practise my scales with a sheet of paper on the back of my hands so I would use my fingers and my hands wouldn't go up and down.
I wish I had counted the number of times I retrieved that sheet of paper from the floor!!! I ended up with a backache the next day!

I have balanced rubbers on the back of my hands but quite dull compared to bananas!!!!

We want to see pictures!

The banana trick sounds hilarious

My teacher got me to balance a 2p on the back of each of my hands when practicing scales, as soon as you tilt your hand the 2p flies off and usually ends up under the piano

Hmmm... you've given me an idea! I think I might try the bananas - not so much for the shoulder thing, but just to keep morale high whilst practicing. I'm sure it's impossible to feel disheartened with two bananas on your shoulders Also you get to eat them afterwards

Maybe that's how Dulciana progressed to one banana... she ate one of them!

You could put 2 chips on your shoulder instead

I practice rudiments on the drum kit with my eyes shut. This way I can concentrate on the sound produced and the feeling through my fingers. Can also be done with the lights off which is a good thing as sometimes at a gig I have to play with no stage lights on during introductions for example.

I've done this before, I was surprised to realise it actually works!!

On the oboe...little pieces of paper between the finger tips and the keys, which mustn't fall out when you change notes. This is to learn not to lift the fingers more than necessary. You start with just one finger, then two, etc etc. It totally fries the mind!!!

The exercise is less useful in hot and muggy weather though - the paper tends to stick to the fingers.

Have been seen playing piano standing up, wearing gloves and with radio playing full blast ... practicing being nervous and avoiding distractions!

I get pupils to do a similar thing on flute - they have to lay a tissue over the back of their hand. If their fingers raise too high, the tissue falls off.

I quite often practise the piano one-handed while holding a baby in the other but that's only for experts.

Not bizarre, but a useful tip from Chethams.

When practicing with just one hand let the other rest gently on the keyboard rather than on your lap or on the piano stool - where it distorts you position and your sensations.

By keeping the reting hand close to a normal playing position you achieve the correct balance of the body and the correct position of the arm and hand that are practicing.

Plus, this has the advantage that when you're sight reading something and one hand isn't doing anything for a while, its still in more or less the right place when it comes back in, and prevents any sort of hiatus when it starts playing again.

Similar to the bits of paper, pennies, rubbers etc on the back of the hand, I was told to _imagine_ a glass of water.

Lying down and playing (not for the whole practice session but for 5-10 minutes)

Singing and playing at the same time - to open throat

They must look/sound a bit odd to anyone who walks in!

Oooh I'm going to to try that one, I can't get my fingers to move fast enough at the moment....thank you!

My teacher is actually encouraging me to lift my fingers higher. He said he never, ever thought he would be telling someone to lift them higher but he feels my touch on the keys is too gentle.

Maybe I should try the bits of paper and see if I can get them to fall out

I am beginning to get the idea that you are definitely not a run-of-the-mill oboist!!!

I might be prepared to try it with moist ciggy papers

Yes...I've tried the lying down whilst playing..opens the throat..really improves breath control! You do look silly...but hey!:-)

..and singing and playing...only meant to do when you're home alone!:-)

Practicing with the contents of a bottle of Carlsberg in your digestive system.........

My singing teacher has loads of bizzarre practice methods. Here are a few:

Taking my bottom lip between thumb and index finger and sing.
Lying on a gym ball head to the ground and singing into this ball.
Lying on the floor singing while my teacher shakes my legs.
Sitting on a chair, head in hands and sing.

Beside I would never want someone else have a look into my singing lessons, it is fun.

My teacher actually recommended a glass (or two) of wine to deal with nerves/tension. My fingers didn't seem to agree, though; they stopped working instead of just relaxed.

I don't think I can beat Marisa's banana story.