What is the correct way to be sitting at a piano? How do you know if youre too close or too far away?

Answer 1

This is a good question and the answer is very important!

My wife agrees with me and she studied piano for years. When your fingers (perpendicular to the keys) are on the middle of the white keys, your forearms should be very close to parallel to the ground and perpendicular to your body. Your upper arms should be parallel to your sides. This position allows you to move your arms in when you need to and move out a little. Your buttocks should be on the front (piano-side edge) of the bench (or stool) so that your legs have freedom to move among the pedals. By not putting too much of your weight on the bench, you can exert that weight as force upon the keys!

You need to check out a little book called "Rhythm, Response and Repose". I can't remember the author and I couldn't find it on Amazon.com! The book was published at least by the 1950's. Our local library has an original copy signed by the author! It is a compilation of years of Russian studies on the ergonomics of playing piano! Despite my description, it is a fascinating and easy to read work. I was a very young teenager when I first read it. The Russians have paid more attention to this area than anyone. Keep practicing!

Answer 2

It'll take a little trial-&-error. The main thing is to avoid lower back strain with awkward positioning. You need to have comfortable forward/backward AND lateral freedom to your movement, such that you can reach both ends of the keyboard freely. Don't hunch over too far; that's the main kiss of death, heh. With a bit of practice, you'll get a feel for the position that best suits you. If you can get up after about an hour's playing and not feel pinched, you're pretty much on the mark. And DO get up to stretch; its vital to maintain your overall fluidity. You may be sitting, but its still a full-body involvement and one off-balance part ill affect the others.
I used to play piano a lot, but took up the synthesizer, which I still use for piano sounds. I sit on a bar stool of sorts and found an angle like the one I applied when I used a Baldwin or Rhodes. Works like a charm. Take care and good luck!

Answer 3

I took piano lessons and had this problem. I sat way too close. My piano teacher made me put both of my arms out in front of me till my fingers just touched the wood back above the keys. That showed me how much I needed to pull the bench out. It's also a fun way to see which arm is shorter then the other.

Answer 4

If you err on one side or the other, err on being too far away. First of all, you will be able to tell easily if you can't reach the keys and can inch it forward. But if you err on being too close, than you will limit your freedom and you may not be aware of it.

I sit alot farther back than I used to, because it really gives my torso, shoulders, arms and hands the freedom they need to be able to navigate the keyboard and the choreography best.

Be sure that you sit on the front edge of the bench. You don't want to sit so far to the edge that you fall off, but you don't want to sit too far back which will impede the free flow of your arms nad hands.

You want to be sure that your wrists and elbows line up pretty straight so that your wrists and arms aren't sinking below your hands, and your hands and wrists aren't raised above your arms.

Also, are you taking lessons? If you are, ask your teacher, he or she will be able to show you good posture at the piano. If you are teaching yourself and can read music fairly well, than treat yourself to a copy of Symour Bernstien's "20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography" Though I do have one nit with the book, becuase he can keep his arms and wrists straight while still playing with fingers that are practically straight. I can't, so I have to curve my fingers. And most likely, you will too.

Answer 5

Sit comfortably on the piano bench. Check the pedals and keyboard. Is it comfy? You're ok then.