How to Keep the Correct Piano Playing Posture

Here are the Ten Commandments for the correct piano playing posture.
We'll start from our feet and we'll go up all the way.
I'll explain the importance of sitting correctly at the piano.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• piano bench
• piano
• shoes
• a stool

1. How come keeping correct piano playing posture is so important?
   Sitting correctly at the piano has a few advantages.
   
   1. It prevents us from Causing body damage and stress while sitting through these long hours, practicing.
   
   2. It allows us to give continuous power and flow while we play.
   
   3. It helps us to play with a greater sensitivity.
   Remember to always pay attention to the correct posture you're playing the piano!

2. 1. Always keep your feet flat on the ground. Your feet are the first station to stability.
   Make sure that your feet are not too far or close from each other.
   Your feet should support the stability of your body.
   
   2. Make sure your knees are placed slightly under the keyboard. The angle of the legs should be a bit more the 90 degrees. Remember... the correct posture is all about keeping you body rounded. That's how we create continuous motion and power. A too narrow or wide angle means you have to change the height of your piano bench/stool.
   
   3. Sit on the front half of the chair.
   We do that to be able to lean forward and backwards when needed. The bench must face the keyboard squarely.
   
   If you don't have a piano chair I recommend you get one. It's important to feel comfortable while playing and to have a chair that fits the activity of piano playing.
   Some chair are slanted for example or they have a back rest.

3. 4. Keep your back straight. Don't stretch it too much however. You'll know that your back is too stretched that when your buttocks won't fully lean on your seat. When we play piano we produce power not only from our finger but also from the whole arm weight and all the way back to our shoulders. Try to keep that line of energy.
   
   5. Place your elbows a bit higher then the keyboard and in a comfortable distance from the body. Placing your elbows too close means that you're sitting too close to the piano.
   
   6. Loose you shoulders. Make sure they stay that way also when you play something you find difficult. Some people tend to raise them up.

4. 7. Make sure your pulse is a bit higher then the arm line. It should always be loose. Ask once a friend to throw your hand from the piano when you play and if it will fly it means you're doing good.
   
   8. Keep your hand curved as if you hold an apple. Play only with the tip of the fingers and don't break them. Keep the energy flowing through the rest of your arm.
   Make sure the bridge of your hand is round. (See pictures)
   
   9. Make sure your neck is long and that your head is straight. Some people tend to stretch their neck forward which causes pain. This could also be sign for having bad eyes. If you have glasses remember to wear it so you won't have to stress them.
   
   10. Imagine you're a marionette held from above by an imaginary string. The movement of the marionette is light and so should we feel. It helps to think about it when keeping the correct posture.

Tips & Warnings

• If you sit and put your hands on your knees and then lift it up to the keyboard you're already having a round hand with the perfect angle.
• E.D. are the initials for Every-Day exercises. It is best to practice them in the first five minutes of your practice, when you're fully concentrated and need a warm-up. This next exercise will concentrate on keeping the piano playing correct posture. Place your right hand on the C position. Press on the C key with your first finger, and then lift it up while you press the second finger on D. Ascend all the way to G and back to C. Think of your posture. Are your feet placed stabile on the ground? Is your hand round? Do you feel pressure somewhere? If you do, it's a sign that you're not working right. Make sure you're breathing while doing the exercise.
• WORK SLOWLY! Give yourself some time to get familiar with your body posture. Treat it as meditation. Think of the small details. Become aware. Keep working for five minutes a day and keep practising consistently.

Resources

• Piano Play It Correct Playing Posture Page

[mikeg21v]

on 10/15/2009 Indeed as a piano player myself! Cool article! Thanks! 5* and rec.