UPSB v3

Hand Care / Does playing piano affect pen spinning?

  1. NoRice4U
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 07:27:51

    Hi, I was wondering if playing the piano affects pen spinning in any way. As in does it help it? Does it work against it?

  2. UEDan
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 07:36:15

    It would help because playing the piano builds dexterity and ambidexterity.

  3. NoRice4U
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 07:52:15

    Mk, would 8 years of practice help ALOT? or a little.

  4. UEDan
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 07:57:16

    It should give you an advantage over us 3 month players biggrin.gif

  5. XtinE
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 08:59:21

    QUOTE (UEDan @ Nov 26 2007, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    It would help because playing the piano builds dexterity and ambidexterity.

    Hmmm, not sure about the ambidexterity part haha. I've played for 12 years, and I still wish I could reach that level of hand control...=]

    I think it should help with finger strength, if anything. But pen spinning and piano use different types of finger control. Personally, it's not doing anything to help or hinder it at all. (Though if you're learning Greg Irwin's fingerwave, piano sure helps a lot! laugh.gif )

  6. ShoeMan
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 17:55:59

    I think it's a different kind of dexterity also.. I don't think it helps..

    edit: it's like jerry cestkowski said on his show (not that any of you guys were listening cuz it's about xcm) dexterity is the ability to do with your hands, the specific thing you wanted to do, so if let's say you are playing the piano for many years, then you are very dexterous, at playing the piano. there isn't really such a thing as "general" dexterity that would be helpful for ANYTHING you want to do with your hands.. so if u wanna be a good spinner just spin the damn pen..

  7. Zombo
    Date: Tue, Nov 27 2007 18:51:34

    playing piano will allow you to stretch your fingers more easily and that's about it.

  8. NoRice4U
    Date: Wed, Nov 28 2007 02:36:55

    thanks guys

  9. Mats
    Date: Thu, Nov 29 2007 19:45:40

    I agree with shoeman - Different type of dexterity - Doesn't really help.

    Harpsichord players perhaps will get more aid than piano players however, that involves a lot more finger work that is more pen-spinningesque.

  10. XtinE
    Date: Fri, Nov 30 2007 09:34:01

    Isnt a harpsichord played just like a piano? Or do you mean harp?

  11. poporo
    Date: Thu, Dec 6 2007 20:06:51

    QUOTE (XtinE @ Nov 30 2007, 04:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Isnt a harpsichord played just like a piano? Or do you mean harp?


    i think what he was getting at is the amount of strength required on every push on the harpsichord as compared to the piano. I'm sure stringed instrument players will benefit someway in pen-twirling though. Piano is mainly an exercise for finger strength and flexibility, not so much control.

  12. ShoeMan
    Date: Thu, Dec 6 2007 21:07:07

    QUOTE (poporo @ Dec 6 2007, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    i think what he was getting at is the amount of strength required on every push on the harpsichord as compared to the piano. I'm sure stringed instrument players will benefit someway in pen-twirling though. Piano is mainly an exercise for finger strength and flexibility, not so much control.


    don't we get enough of that outside the forums?

  13. K4S
    Date: Fri, Dec 7 2007 09:17:09

    QUOTE (poporo @ Dec 6 2007, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    pen-twirling

  14. Zombo
    Date: Fri, Dec 7 2007 14:25:47

    uhh stay on topic, who cares if he called it pen twirling.

  15. hoiboy909
    Date: Thu, Oct 2 2008 02:58:39

    mm... not really in a bad way... but has the pluses of dexterity and strength =)

  16. j147l
    Date: Thu, Oct 2 2008 03:50:37

    I don't know since I stopped playing piano a long time ago...

    However, I still play violin, but I think that only helps the left hand...

  17. Shadowclad
    Date: Sun, Oct 5 2008 17:07:24

    I play both piano and guitar, and there was an immediate improvement in my penspinning when I started playing guitar. The chords are really good for stretching your fingers. Someday I'll write an exercise with chords specifically meant to improve your PSing.

  18. Stevieboy7
    Date: Sun, Oct 5 2008 18:41:08

    QUOTE (Shadowclad @ Oct 5 2008, 12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    I play both piano and guitar, and there was an immediate improvement in my penspinning when I started playing guitar. The chords are really good for stretching your fingers. Someday I'll write an exercise with chords specifically meant to improve your PSing.

    Totally agreed.
    I've been playing guitar for about 11 years now... and i find my left hand is just as stretchable and good as my right hand..
    although the left thumb isn't as great at co-operating tongue.gif
    guitar helps alot with 2p2h as well... lets 1 hand go autopilot while you can focus on the other.

  19. Clyel
    Date: Tue, Dec 23 2008 18:43:50

    QUOTE (UEDan @ Nov 27 2007, 02:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    It should give you an advantage over us 3 month players biggrin.gif


    I started spinning about the same time as my friend and i also played piano 4 4 years now and hes beter than me angryfire.gif bawling.gif

  20. KhaDori
    Date: Tue, Dec 23 2008 19:19:49

    I dont really think that playing piano affects PS... I was playing for 3 years and it havent any influence i think.

  21. Clyel
    Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 08:50:47


    exactly icon_spin.gif

  22. riverboy
    Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:45:02

    I heard that Eriror played the piano... and look at how he spins! bowdown.gif

    I think it does help.... A LOT!

  23. iVodka
    Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 18:28:44

    How, about spinning the piano? biggrin.gif

  24. shoeman6
    Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 21:06:37

    That's like saying psing helps playing piano = \
    and it doesnt, no where in piano playing are you required to spin something arround yur thumb = P
    May help with over all hand eye coordination though.

  25. H2FLO
    Date: Sat, Dec 27 2008 07:53:23

    QUOTE (NoRice4U @ Nov 26 2007, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Hi, I was wondering if playing the piano affects pen spinning in any way. As in does it help it? Does it work against it?


    i wouldn't rush to rule out any absolutes of whether one thing does or does not influence the other. this question is asking us: "if playing the piano affects pen spinning IN ANY WAY'. if we are talking about the brain and its processes, there is more to it." i could imagine that by sight reading or music improvisation, one could carry this skill to the domain of improvisation for penspinning. it's not a direct route, as to say A changes B or B changes A, and it's too simple to say that it does or doesn't have anything to do with each other(that is fine if you believe it, and i understand that as well- as far as the eye can see)...... but the question is still asking us the influences.... how it affects another thing "in any way". so i am just thinking to myself- the influences may be bidirectional in influence to each other, with different degrees, depending on time/phase of expertise in the field. initially, when starting out pencil spinning with years of piano at young age, there may be a rapid learning rate as some basic movements may cross to other domains(but this may be too small to matter)... but then as time goes by it hits the ceiling cuz it can only do so much(technical/mechanical-wise).... but once you get better(the next phase, breaking through noob ceiling), you learn combinations, which is where i suggest sight reading/improvisation/coordination of the fingers, may influence, stimulate, or rewire the brain to think differently for generating combos.... not exactly sure how. but this- i believe is very possible. essentially, everything comes down to the processes and changes in the brain. it's definitely not static, but rather, plastic, and is subject to influence from other activities in life. also.... there could possibly be more transferable skills if you started piano among various other things earlier in life(general life experiences) ...... thus.... possibly enabling yourself to acquire other skills quicker and more efficient(even though of complete different functionality). but anyways... i am only stating the possibility because i don't think it's valid to conclude anything without evidence. sorry for the long message..... and if you disagree, please respond respectfully and thoughtfully. your thoughts?

  26. Clyel
    Date: Thu, Jan 15 2009 22:46:47

    i play piano and a few more instruments that require fast finger movement an d i still suck at spinning pens