How to Have Proper Posture at the Piano

The piano is a popular instrument to learn. From classical to blues pieces, there's a plethora of songs you can learn. Learning which fingers to use on which keys is important, but so is sitting properly. Making good posture a habit now will give you the edge and the confidence you need during a performance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Get a proper bench. Most benches that come with pianos are "one height fits all," sized to match the piano, but that doesn't work for everyone. While sitting on the bench, your arm should fall comfortably from your shoulder, your forearm should be parallel with the floor and your fingers should fall in a natural curve to touch the keys. If your forearm is angled up or down or your fingers are extended stiffly, your bench isn't the right height.
2. Sit up straight, but don't be too rigid and inflexible. You've got to be able to move freely so keeping a loose upright position is best. Slouching affects your reach, so get in the habit of sitting up straight. Keep your head up, eyes following along with your music.
3. Position your hands over the keys. You shouldn't reach forward to do this, nor should your elbows be too close to your body. Scoot the whole bench backward or forward accordingly.
4. Note where you sit on the bench. You need to have good balance to use the foot pedals and to move your hands up and down the keys. You should be in a comfortable position, not teetering on the edge of the bench but not sitting so far back that your feet don't touch the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of buying a whole new bench, if the height difference is small, consider getting a pillow to sit on or shaving a bit of the bottom of each leg of the bench so you sit at the proper height.
• If you're comfortable with your location on the bench (see Step 4) but your feet are still dangling above the floor, get a small step to place on the floor in front of you so you're comfortable and can still reach the pedals.