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feeling a bit nervous after just accepting a last minute crew position in a 240km road race next week. It means leaving my beloved piano and not being able to practice for six days. I went to the same event last year but I had only being playing for a few weeks so nothing was lost. Now I have a daily practice regime I feel I am going to lose some major stuff or fall behind. I have an old electronic keyboard which is neither weighted or has full size keys but could act as my security blanket.

Any tips for what you do when separated from your piano and practice regime appreciated.

I reckon you`ll find the break beneficial. You`ll forget nothing. Indeed, last time I was away for 6 days, I played better when I got back.
The improvement, however, was short lived! Enjoy the race. I did 10 minutes on the treadmill today watching a crime programme on tele at the gym. Dunno how people do marathons . . .what on earth would you think of when you`re on the road?

The least frustrating thing I did during my recent no piano period was to work on rhythm. At my lesson, I actually played a piece with dotted eighths and sixteenths correctly!

I didn't really touch my piano for a couple of months when I got sick and also coz I was a bit depressed anyway, when I got back into it...it seemed like I got better? Reading notes somehow got easier and songs I had known how to play seemed to have matured and sounded better this time around. The 6 days apart could be a good thing for ya. Plus the anticipation of going back to your piano will probably help you focus and certainly get you motivated.

Good luck with your race btw!

Pick a page from a piece you have never played (but would like to). Something easier than usual would be a good choice. Learn all you can from the page without playing it. Try to hear what it sounds like and memorize it.

Then when you get back, try to sit down at the piano and play it!

Sam

Enjoy the road race and don't even think about the piano. In six days all that'll happen is your brain will assimilate all you've done recently and ready itself for more.

I take a week away from the piano every three to six months for this purpose.

Breaks are good. I usually feel I play better after one.

Take up guitar while on the road, learn some chords and scales, then some arpeggios. Have a go at playing some of the pieces you know on piano. Understanding both will really open up your brain, and you'll have a blast.

What do marathon runners think about to while away the hours? Pizza and beer!

I already play guitar Oasismfg and no way would I take one of my two beautiful acoustics on this sort of road trip. I take your point though about trying to play the same piece on both. I haven't tried that yet.

Marathon runners at my level take around four hours for a 42km run. The person I am crewing for will take around 40 hours with no sleep or rest. We will all have switched our brains off after the first four hours lol

Most of your competition would probably tell you don't carry the high C string with you, carry the harp.

Buy a Casio PX-5S. Bring it with you. There's an awful lot of waiting around....

[/quote]I already play guitar Oasismfg and no way would I take one of my two beautiful acoustics on this sort of road trip. [/quote]

Maybe get a pawn shop beater?