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Posture and hand position at the piano or keyboard - avoid RSI |
| as illustrated in dvd piano course - Learn the piano with Clifford Evans |
These are the various components of posture which go into calculating your sitting position and stool height, and which vary from person to person because of the different length of the spine compared with the upper arm.
Firstly make sure that the shoulders are relaxed when sitting and playing the piano or keyboard. The author does not advise standing to play the keyboard - a practice which has been taken up by many and which produces many problems of piano posture which can develop into piano RSI
Make sure that your spine is in the shape of an "S" not in the shape of a "C". The determines the height of your shoulders and therefore of the stool. It also reduces the risk of back ache and neck ache if you do many hours' practice. Don't practise longer than 30-40 minutes at a time. Poor piano keyboard posture can cause piano RSI.
Then check that you have the correct shape of hand - slightly curved fingers. This is very important for the correct hand position to avoid piano RSI
Check the position of the wrist - critical - making sure that you have a straight line from the inner elbow to the knuckles where the fingers start to curve. Your piano posture and hand position are improving - we're nearly there!
Now check the last horizontal, straight line - from the lower elbow to the surface of the keys - and this will tell you the height of your stool. If you like you can have the lower elbow a centimetre above the keys so that you feel your arm weight falling slightly onto the keys, but this is a refinement for later.
It's not as difficult as it sounds if you have a friend (or camcorder) looking from your right side exactly level with the keys. A mirror will not work because of the angle. Enjoy your piano or keyboard progress with your new correct piano posture and hand position and avoid RSI
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