"Pianist Ergonomics"- What is the right way to hold your hands, positi!
Question: Sometimes when I play the piano (especially scales) my arms get a little sore, and when I play for long periods of time my back gets sore. What am I doing wrong? Can anyone recommend how far away from the piano I should sit, how high up my arms should be, etc...? Or can anyone recommend a website or a book that can help? Thanks.
Answers: Sometimes when I play the piano (especially scales) my arms get a little sore, and when I play for long periods of time my back gets sore. What am I doing wrong? Can anyone recommend how far away from the piano I should sit, how high up my arms should be, etc...? Or can anyone recommend a website or a book that can help? Thanks.
You may think my first recommendation ridiculous; but stop and think.
You are probably becoming tense and "stressed". How does one most effectively control stress? My answer, by adequate, controlled, proper breathing.
Obtain a good book on the basics of yoga. One of its 8 steps(the third), is "pranayama", breath control, simply put. I would recommend "The Fundamentals of Yoga", by Dr. Ramamurti Mishra, M.D. He was one of my former Gurus; you can check out his biography on the Internet should you wish.
Try to master the exercises; and always before you begin your practice, just sit down, close your eyes, breath deeply - hold - and then release slowly. Do this 2-3 times, before you even touch the keys. And stop at intervals, incorporating this practice along with your piano practice.
I would suggest that you straighten your spine, and try to keep your wrist turned inwards, in a relaxed a manner as possible.
And you are probably pushing it: go slowly, very slowly, until you have mastered any particular technique; then you can gradually increase the speed. But always, always try to remain relaxed.
Hope this helps,
Best of luck,
Alberich
well when I practice, sometimes that happens to me;; I don't think its the way you sit though but i thinkk its just your arms and back getting tired. Also, my piano teacher tells me to hold my wrists loosely and when I play a fast song, it helps my arms not get tired. It's hard though, cause my wrists usually lock up(:
Keyboard at 27.5" off the ground.
The piano bench should tilt toward the keyboard slightly (99.9% of them don't) front of piano bench ~18" off the ground, back of piano bench ~19" off the ground. You'll probably want some padding under your posterior as well. Your forearms should be in the same plane as the keys.
You should be a comfortable distance away; not too close and not so far that you have to reach for the keys. They should fall under your hands.