Marco Tamayo`s routine, before practice starts - no warm up before the capricio

Not long ago, I promised my friend Gabriel Bianco that I would record some of Paganini’s Capricci first thing in the morning, just after waking up. So here it is—though I did take the precaution of getting dressed before coming downstairs! More seriously: this is part of my routine. Playing complete works without warming up is an essential aspect of my practice. In doing so, several key elements must be observed—above all, relaxation, breathing, anticipation, and error prevention. It’s about training the body and mind to respond naturally, without relying on exceptions. When the effort is minimal and interpretation flows from a natural place, anyone can achieve it. This approach also helps me identify the moments where mind and body are not yet aligned—where the interpretation and physical execution are not traveling in parallel. In the end, that’s what it’s all about: unifying the abstract idea we have of a piece with what the body...