As musicians, we often focus so much of our time on developing and crafting our playing abilities, that we neglect the importance of maintaining correct posture, a practice that will help bypass any injuries to our physical body and improve our performing. Whether you are a beginner pianist or a seasoned professional touring nightly, the tips outlined below remain constant and equally necessary.
Not every pianist will sit in an identical way; you must make sure to find the body position that is comfortable and suits you. Although, there are a few general pointers that you should be aware of, helping to avoid any kind of potential injury.
1. Adjust your piano bench
To find the correct height of your piano bench, simply ensure that your upper and lower arm create a 90-degree angle, resulting in a straight line between your elbows and the keyboard. If the height of your bench is not correct, your body will inevitably raise its shoulders or slouch, both of which cause discomfort or pain. It is worth investing in an adjustable bench for this very reason.
It’s crucial to also establish the correct distance between yourself and the keyboard. You should not feel as if you’re stretching to reach the keys or that the keys are too close. It is recommended to maintain a 20cm distance between your chest and the keyboard, although this can to be altered depending on the individual.
2. Keep your feet flat
It is vital to keep your feet flat on the floor, with only subtle movements being applied to utilise the pedals. After adjusting the bench to the correct height, if your feet are dangling and not touching the floor, it is recommended to invest in a foot stool to place your feet on, allowing them to stay flat and comfortable. Alternatively, you could even use a pile of books.
Secondly, make sure not to cross your legs nor spread them too wide; they should remain at shoulder width at all times.
3. Don’t slouch!
The guidance to “sit up straight” is something drilled into children throughout their school days but should be taken equally seriously when playing piano at any age. Unfortunately, it is more than common for pianists to slouch when playing and this can result in serious back and neck pain that will not only affect your ability perform but also your everyday life. If you do find yourself adhering to this habit, simply lift your arms up until they are pointing to the sky and then relax them whilst keeping your back in the same upright position.
4. Relax your wrist and curve your fingers
Your hands are undeniably essential when playing the piano, making it vital to practice correct finger technique, reducing the possibility of injuries. Your thumb should remain straight but make sure to keep your other fingers curved outwards, as if your gently holding an apple, as opposed to buckled inwards, as if you’re pressing them on a table. There can be a tendency to play notes with a straight pinky, something that is natural given that it’s weaker than the other fingers, but remember, keep those fingers curved!
Secondly, rather than relying on your wrist to press the keys, utilise the weight of your arm. This allows you to keep your wrist flexible, resulting in less strain on it and also an ability to play dynamics with greater expressivity.
5. Don’t scoot, lean
The final tip is to not ‘scoot’ around your piano bench to locate high-up or low-down notes on the piano. This is certainly not an effective use of your energy and could even result in tumbling off your seat onto the floor! Rather than scooting along the bench, simply lean with left and right with your upper body to locate those hard to reach notes. Equally, if you find yourself playing a piece where the majority of the notes are lower down the piano, you are well within your right to position your bench slightly to the left, reducing any possibility of ‘scooting’.
After reading these five tips, you may be asking the following questions:
1. Does this really make a difference to my playing?
2. Could I really get injured by not following this advice?
The answer to both is yes!
In terms of playing, having correct body posture will drastically improve the relationship that you have with your instrument, resulting in more proficient performing abilities. You must feel comfortable with your instrument otherwise the speed at which you improve can reduce.
In terms of getting injured, incorrect posture can increase the possibility of developing long-term negative body conditions such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) that affects muscles, nerves and tendons anywhere in your physique. Even the slightest ache or pain to your body could affect your overall ability or desire to play your instrument, which would be a great shame given how enjoyable music is.
In short, follow these simple tips to improve your overall piano playing and to look after your body and mind. If you do find yourself with a consistent body pain that is affecting your playing, be sure to discuss this with your piano teacher or seek advice from a health professional.
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