Mouse / touch: choose instrument, technical destination, minutes, and an effort ceiling. Shape the ramp, then climb it. The switchback changes the contour or dynamic task without changing the route’s minutes.
Keyboard: Tab reaches every control. Number keys 1–4 set the effort ceiling when focus is outside a form control; W starts or ends the ascent; Space rests or continues it; Arrow Right moves to the next step; V cuts the next variation switchback.
Convention: effort 1 is exploratory and 4 is brisk but controlled. Pitched guide patterns use equal-tempered references (A4 = 440 Hz); drum cues are unpitched. Keep movements comfortable and stop any step that feels painful—this tool does not assess physical condition.
Piano · coordination
12 exact minutes
This widget is an instrument specific warm up timer. Click the controls with your mouse, or use your computer keyboard for a quicker workflow to control the timer and shape the warmup routine to suit. It is designed to help you transition gently from relaxation to readiness. It’s a low-stress, steady way to get yourself ready to go.
On the setup panel you establish conditions for your session. In the dropdown select your instrument: Guitar, Violin, Voice, Piano, or Drums. Then select a technical goal. You can choose speed preparation, range comfort, articulation, evenness, or coordination. Move the runway slider to adjust your practice time, anywhere from five minutes to half an hour. Finally choose your effort level (Ease (Brisk)). This will control how fast and how hard the steps is created. Once you have set your criteria, click Shape my instrument-specific ramp to do this.
How to Use the Warm Up Timer
The widget then generates an exercise sequence based off your goals and your instrument. It is presented in a logical order from release checks through to your area of attention. Each step include a short instruction, its duration in minutes, the target tempo in BPM, and a name. On the right-hand side, under Path, you can see what it looks like as a whole.
Press the Climb the Calibrated Warm-Up Ramp button to get started. This starts the clock on the coach panel ticking down the amount of time you have left on the initial step. The list of steps are shown with the currently active one highlighted, and there’s a steady pulse playing that keep you on tempo. Once it runs out of time on a step, the widget jump up to the next exercise automatically. If you need to pause the timer, just hit the Take a measured rest button to silence the pulse too.
The Variation switchback button gives you an opportunity to change shape of the routine. It retains the overall length but switches the pattern for each exercise. Variation one turns the playable contours around, so you play from the other end of the cell or lead with your opposite hand. Variation two introduces a softer echo return that asks you to respond with reduced volume to each cell. Option three resets the straight ascent again.
You have options on how you want it to sound too. There is an audio option that will allow you to hear a demonstration of each exercise to help you visualize it. To turn this on just click the Hear the selected step cuetext link. This plays a brief audio example of the step you are currenty looking at.
You can also use the guide level slider to adjust the volume of the cues and pulse, as well as control the speed of the coach’s clock. By default the timer is compressed so that you can get a fast look at the route. If you’d rather it run at true minutes during your practice session, then select the True minutes option.
Without picking up your mouse, you can operate the widget using keyboard shortcuts. To change the effort ceiling from Ease to Brisk, use the number keys 1 through 4. To begin (or cancel) the routine, press W. To pause and resume time, hit the Space bar. To move forward in the routine to the next step, press the Right Arrow key. To switch between the variation switchbacks, press V. When not focused within a select box or text input, these shortcuts will apply.
Fullscreen: The fullscreen button makes the widget full screen so you can see the coach prompts and steps. It is handy when used on a smaller monitor or tablet.
To play, click the How to play button to display the help panel that describes the rules and controls. Simply click the button again to close the help panel.
Move comfortabley and avoid anything that hurts when you do it. Remember this is not medical advice, only a prompt to try out the techniques described. The pitch reference uses equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz. Unpitched drumming cues. Use the volume control so you can hear without being distracted.
Try some of the other combinations, from musical instruments to destinations, for a warm up that works for you. Choose an instrument and a decent length of time. Define the ramp and hear out the cue sound for step one. Once you’re prepared, hit the climb button or use the W key to start. Allow the timer to lead you up the ramp while resting whenever necessary. Use the changes to add interest and difficulty to each workout. At zero on the clock, your hands (or sticks or voice) will be warmed up and available for your primary practice session.
You should of used it before!