A Quick Left Hand Warmup

Most people are aware of the importance of warming up before we practice or perform. A slow warmup can protect against injury and help to ensure we are performing at our optimum level. In situations where time is short, however, it can be tempting to forgo the warmup portion of the day. When I am pressed for time, I sometimes use the finger exercise below to loosen up my fingers quickly. It is a simple, but effective, exercise that gets my fingers loose and nimble in a minute or two.

Play this in one position (without shifting).

Start it slowly and speed it up as you go along. Don’t go too fast, too soon.

Always keep the fingers light.

Download this exercise (PDF)

Try this next time you are pressed for time, starting slowly and speeding up. Done in a relaxed manner, it should get your hand moving freely, in about a minute or two.