Technique Starts Before You Play a Note
The way you sit at the piano, the position of your hands, the angle of your wrists — these fundamentals determine your ceiling as a pianist. Bad habits formed early are hard to break. Good habits formed early become invisible assets.
Bench Height and Distance
Your elbows should be approximately level with the keyboard when your hands are resting on the keys. If the bench is too low, your wrists drop and your fingers lose power. If it's too high, your shoulders tense up.
Sit close enough that your elbows are slightly in front of your torso — not reaching forward, not cramped.
Hand Position
The classic image is holding a tennis ball in your hand. Your fingers should be gently curved, with the weight of your arm flowing through the tips of your fingers into the keys. Avoid flat fingers (they lack control) and overly arched fingers (they create tension).
Wrist Position
Your wrists should float slightly above the keyboard — not resting on the keys or the fallboard. Wrist tension is one of the most common causes of piano-related injury.
Shoulder and Back
Relax your shoulders. They should not be raised or hunched. Your back should be straight but not rigid — think "tall and easy," not "military attention."
Breathing
Many students hold their breath while playing difficult passages. This creates tension throughout the body. Breathe naturally and continuously.
Why This Matters
Poor technique doesn't just limit your playing — it can cause repetitive strain injuries that sideline you for months. Our Gretna instructors address technique from the very first lesson.