How to Play the Piano - The Proper Posture
Don't Let The Music Move You!
If you turn on the TV nowadays, chances are that you're going to see piano players swaying and in some cases, jumping up and down while they play. This has been a controversial topic in learning how to play the piano. Students often mimic what they see on screen, thinking that it's the right thing to do. What they don't realize is that many of these performers simply jump around for show- if you saw them practicing, they would probably look very different.
Some people argue that posture is something that goes with the style of playing. While classical music calls for a more dignified pose, blues and jazz is more relaxed, right? Wrong- you simply have to look at jazz legends like Fats Weller to see that jazz has nothing to do with onstage antics. The general rule has always been that a pianist should have a dignified posture and should remain calm and quiet through the performance. Surprisingly enough, this has nothing to do with looks and everything to do with giving a good performance.
Posture Problems
Many people who are learning how to play the piano might be surprised to learn that some piano greats had bad playing postures. Glenn Gould, for example had notoriously bad sitting posture when he played. Did it affect his playing? Of course it did- Gould suffered from back pain, numb fingers and immense pain in the shoulders and neck. Many observers believe that it was his bad posture that led to his early death. Without the pain in his neck and back, there's a good chance he would have played for many more years.
It is clear from this that learning how to play the piano means learning the right posture. People who develop difficulties in the back, arms, neck, shoulders and fingers are simply not sitting correctly. Having the right hand position is important as well; placing the hands incorrectly can lead to wrist and finger pain. It will also inhibit your ability to reach certain notes and chords. It's also important to make sure your piano stool is of the right height and at the correct distance from the keys.
Posture can literally make or break a good piano player. Mastering the correct hand positions and posture is the key to learning how to play the piano.
Learning how to play the piano can be a fun and rewarding activity for people of all ages. It can build confidence in children and add fulfillment to adults' lives. When people first learn to play piano they need to focus on the basic techniques. Getting in the habit to have correct posture is going to help you as you progress into a more experienced musician.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Added: April 4, 2008
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