What's the Big Deal About Posture?

You and your student are probably eager to dive right in and start making music! However, it's important to set a proper foundation before you begin.

Excellent posture ensures tension-free playing, and gives your student

the best chance to play with technical proficiency,

both now and in the years to come.

Let's break down the elements of excellent posture at the piano!

Position on the Bench

Your student should sit toward the front edge of the bench, with feet planted fully on the floor. If your young student has "dangling feet," try having them scoot forward on the bench. (Most students position themselves too far back.) If that doesn't help, provide them with a small stool or even a stack of books on which to rest their feet. (This was a perfect application for old encyclopedias and out-of-date phone books...but who has those anymore? LOL.)

Spinal Alignment

Now that your student is in the proper position on the bench, check their spinal alignment. They should have a neutral spine - no hunching forward or leaning back. As many students concentrate hard on the music in front of them, they also tend to crane their heads forward, jutting their chins out in the process. Reminding your student to gently tuck their chin will alleviate that stress on their neck.

Distance from the Keyboard

Students should test and adjust the bench as necessary, so that they don't have to reach unnaturally far for the keys. However, they should also be careful not to sit too close, which can cause "T-Rex arms" (as I like to call them.) It might take a little trial and error to get the distance just right, especially if someone taller or shorter was playing just before them.

While it would be ideal to put all these elements together *before* your

student starts their practice session, feel free to stop them mid-session

and help them make adjustments! Soon enough, they will naturally put

these things in place.