To play piano comfortably and effectively and avoid muscle stress and injury, it’s important to sit so that your body, hands, and eyes are properly positioned.
Body Position
- Lean forward slightly.
- Relax shoulders.
- Let arms hang loosely at sides.
- Keep elbows slightly higher than keys.
- Situate bench parallel to keyboard.
- Sit on front half of bench.
- Keep knees slightly under keyboard.
- Keep feet flat on floor, with right foot forward slightly.
View this post on Instagram
Hand Position
- Let arms hang loosely at sides. Place hands gently on keys, keeping natural curve of fingers formed when hands were hung at sides.
- Strike keys with side tips of thumbs (thumbnails should be perpendicular to piano keys).
View this post on Instagram
Eye Position
It’s normal for beginners to look at their fingers often as they play. But once you become more comfortable with the location of the keys, keep your eyes on the music and not on your hands.
Take Regular Breaks
Even if you play with proper positioning, it’s a wise to take breaks every half hour to stretch your muscles, especially the ones in your hands, arms, fingers, and lower back.