| Here is the basic way to sit at the piano and starting | | | | - To find the basic hand shape, relax your arms to the |
| position for beginning pianists: | | | | side. Notice how when your arms are hanging at the |
| - Make sure that the piano bench is not too close or | | | | side, the fingers form a natural curve? Maintain that |
| too far out from the piano. You legs should be in a | | | | curve as a bring your hand up toward the keyboard. |
| position where it is comfortable for you to reach both | | | | - Place your finger tips on the keyboard. It should look |
| pedals (if you are tall enough). | | | | like your hand is holding a small stone or a bubble |
| - Make sure that you are sitting at the right height on | | | | underneath the palm. Leave a small gap under your |
| the bench. An adjustable stool is useful for both | | | | hand so that your palm doesn't touch the white keys. I |
| growing children and adults. When you put your hands | | | | like to tell my young students to think of their hand as |
| on the keys, your forearms should be parallel to the | | | | the roof of a house. They wouldn't want to squash |
| floor. | | | | anyone underneath! |
| - When you are not playing the pedals, your feet | | | | - Check that your back is straight, shoulders are down |
| should be flat on the floor (not legs crossed or straight | | | | and relaxed and that your elbows are not sticking out |
| out). Small children will need to place their feet on a | | | | like wings to the side, nor touching the sides of your |
| footstool so that their legs are not dangling in the air. | | | | body. The knuckles, wrist and elbows should form a |
| Thighs should be parallel to the floor. | | | | straight line. |