Sitting at the Piano

Lesson

Sit at the right height

Adjust your bench so your forearms are roughly parallel to the floor when your hands rest on the keys. Sit forward on the front third of the bench. Feet flat. Back tall but not stiff.

Where your hands belong

Curve your fingers as if you're holding a small ball. Knuckles slightly raised, wrists level with the key surface, thumbs hanging just above the white keys. The motion comes from the fingertips — not from a flat hand slapping down.

Why posture matters

Bad posture builds bad habits. A relaxed wrist plays faster, sounds better, and won't injure you in five years. If you feel tension in your shoulders or forearm, you're working against the instrument. Pause and reset.

• Bench distance: elbows just in front of your torso, not pinned to your sides.
• Wrist height: a pencil placed on the back of your hand should roll off, not sit there.
• Foot placement: both feet on the floor (or pedal) before you play a note.