How's your posture? Chapters: 0:50 How to sit at the piano 2:30 Hand and wrist position 3:19 More on sitting posture 4:29 Warming up - hand stretches 6:11 Neck & shoulder stretches 7:02 How to avoid getting tired 7:53 Arm or finger pain? 9:30 Diet 10:18 Playing with arthritis 12:24 Carpal tunnel 12:58 If you have old injuries
Thanks for giving the chapters. Just a heads up: if you want the chapters to appear on the timeline of the video you need to have an initial 0:00 chapter in the description.
@Pianote a wise and wonderful piano teacher called Yvonne Enoch taught me fifty years ago that turning your wrist when playing scales was damaging, here's how she explained it. On a C major scale play notes C, D, E. As soon as your thumb has come off the C pass it under your hand *without* twisting your wrist, play the F then play those four notes over from the C again noting that the only part of the hand that is moving is the thumb. Your knuckles should stay at right angles to the notes as seen from above the same as when you play a five finger scale with *no* movement of the elbow other than to move in the direction of the hand. It does *not* kink out sideways causing the wrist to twist, this is what causes the pain in the wrist and arm. Practice this with relaxed wrist, arm and elbow before moving on. Keep your shoulders loose too. Next play the four notes but this time being aware that as your thumb has moved under your hand it has automatically transfered the fingers onto the next five notes of the scale with the knuckles still at right angles to the keys as seen from above and let the fingers complete the scale. Come back down the scale being aware that when you transfer your hand over the thumb from F to third finger on E that again there is no twist of the wrist, no flick of the elbow, knuckles at right angles to the keys and the fingers fall automatically onto the correct notes as your thumb spreads back on to the C. Use your body movement, lean sideways a bit to help keep your arm relaxed. Oh and don't hold your breath while concentrating! The work is all done by the thumb and that is what needs training and exercise to save the rest of the limb and your back from tension. You have shown me so much I didn't know and opened my eyes to new things, I hope I'm repaying you and that this is helpful. I've been watching you twist that wrist for a while and wondering if you had any pain from playing like that so I hope this little exercise is useful. I was a child with small hands when I learnt this so anyone can do it btw. Thanks for all the lovely work you do here. All the very best to you and your team. xx
Hi there! Concerning your sore forearm. If it's something to do with your tendons, (tendonitis or tennis elbow) try reducing your lactose intake. You can get lactose free milk and see what happens over a period of a couple of months. Lactose can be quite damaging to your tendons if your body doesn't produce enough lactase to digest it. This REALLY helped solve this problem for me!
Very happy you made this video! Because me being a beginner i never even though to watch my posture/positioning while I'm playing/practicing the piano. Also it would be nice to hear the story of tattoo. I only asked because I want to get one but i can't think of nothing to put on my body forever. And as always love the expressive way you talk with your voice and the poetic way you use your hands when talking! Thanks!
Hey... Beginner here.. thank you for everything. How far from the piano should we sit? My problem: when move both hands on arpeggios upwards and my left hand comes in front of my torso, my arm seems weirdly twisted and uncomfortable, unless I lean a bit backwards which I assume is not healthy?? Trying to find a solution but at my age I found no teacher to guide me and no videos on the web to tackle this.
Pianote is just so helpful for a beginner such as myself! Love from Brazil 💚💛 Oh, and a typical beginner's question: Should I always sit on the center of the bench? (Because I'm practicing "Moonlight Sonata", and even without noticing, I tend to sit more on the left corner since it kinda makes easier to access where most of the notes are happening)
Great lesson as usual. I watched more of your tutorial and I found them very easy to understand. I am from Madagascar Island, east of africa and just a new on piano matter but I started to gain some interesting stuff already from these.
I want to visit Madagascar one day. I was obsessed with the island when I was a kid. It's one of the first places I could point to on a globe 🌎 😅 good luck with playing piano
Wonderful video and just in time as I’m icing my upper back because...... I’m addicted to playing the piano! I joined pianote a month ago and I can’t learn fast enough! Guess I need to take more breaks😬
Do you have any suggestions for people with severe neuropathy? I have terminal cancer and my treatments have resulted in severe neuropathy. I have to take meds to reduce the pain of the pins and needles it gives me, and that leaves me with the inability to feel the keys with my fingers, and for my foot, it feels like I’m constantly stepping on rocks. I have started taking my shoes off so that I can slide my foot up on the pedal a little bit higher so that I can feel the arch of my foot on the pedal and then I slide it back down so I know that I truly am on the pedal. Then I simply lift my foot up and down knowing that my foot should still be on the pedal. Do you have any other advice for people with severe neuropathy?
@@stacer1962 ooh I see. Thanks for that. Well, I can call myself a hunchback everytime I play and it hurts my back withouth noticing that I have that posture as I sit there in a couple of time. Maybe I can call that bad I think?
Joshua Garcia. Dorothy Taubman was a leading piano teacher based in the USA who taught at Juilliard. Edna Golandsky was one of her pupils and continues Dorothy’s work focusing on healthy coordinated playing to prevent injury at the piano. Please see my previous links to the Golandsky Institute or google for more information.
I notice at least from the camera angle that you are sitting much higher than my adjustable bench will allow. what is the angle of your forearm to the keys? Is your elbow higher than the keyboard?
I dont know why, but since I've started trying to use proper posture and technique, I've actually started having a lot more pain flare ups, that I haven't had since my RSI 2 years ago.
This was an awesome video. The one that related the most to my way of learning. Was able to grasp pretty much everything important I had missed, such as the balancing of the posture, and the uhmm "counscious" over the body Propioception haha. I started playing piano again, and when playing for too long I'd get a lot of pain in different areas. I play much less often now, because it was really painful, but I've done some PT (physical therapy) lately, and along with this video I think I'm ready to go! Just one question: the ring finger of my right hand usually feels a lot of discomfort when doing some exercises, and while doing some activities (typing, playing videogames, playing an instrument...). It's really easy for me to lose counsciousness over it, and for it to tense. At some point, regardless of what I'm doing with my hands, it gets very tense, mechanical and sloppy. Have you heard of anything like that? Any stretches that come to mind?
Question, should your hips be in a straight line with your knees or should they be slightly higher? In the video you don't mention this, but it looks like your hips are higher.
Very informative, is there anything that you can add or do to your bench or chair, that would promote good back alignment (lower back tucked in, good tip)?
Hi stacey, proper posture is SUPER important at the piano. Because of the hours that can be spent playing, putting too much stress can lead to discomfort and long-term pain. I know this from decades of playing experience. Not sure what your piano-playing experience is (or medical background), but posture at the piano is something people should learn. It doesn't have to be from a chiropractor though!
@@PianoteOfficial Hi Pianote this is Andre who initiated the comment, I would welcome an answer or a tip on how to promoted good back alignment. I don't really care about Stacey Brown's reply.
hi, can you please make a video how to play abba - dancing queen? I've just watched the bohemian rhapsody one and that vid really help me a lot! thanks in advance!
I really hope this helps me. I had to completely stop playing a few days ago cause my hands and wrist hurts so bad. I'm actually afraid I maybe have hurt myself 😣
Hi Lisa, thank you for your very interesting tutorial and introducing your guest. Certainly your guest has some very helpful tips. It is a little sad however to read the usual few negative responses.
Just looking at that guy I'm thinking he is a great advertisement for his own methods. Totally at ease in his own body. What a pity I didn't see this video a few years ago, it might have saved me from injuries in my hands... I'm just a little sorry to find out I have to replace the sugar in my life by broccoli ☹
I never thought about those factors before and so many new words! I cant believe steak make inflammation worse :( Atleast he did not tell you eat tomato or peas:)
Could you do a tutorial on Piece By Piece by Kelly Clarkson the American Idol version? I just adore that song its so beautiful and I would love to be able to learn and play it for my family.
Ear training. If you hear it, you can play it. Try not to be dependent on reading music & having someone show you what to play. If you figure it out for yourself the rewards are amazing.
Actually 4 hours is the minimum amount of time for me to practice, I love to practice. It's never too much I'm a Ling Ling wannabe. It's not as bad nowadays but sometimes the back pain really gets to me I'll take the advice of taking small breaks in between practice sessions though =)
Request: would you be willing to create a video on how to have musical conversations? I'm thinking of dueling banjos or 2 performers playing 1 piano each or something. If it would help, then I could find sample videos.
so.. i learned the correct posture.. now all i need is to learn the piano.. :) thanks for the video though.. looking forward to buy a piano bench as i am using regular chair for now.. idk if its a must.. but i guess i will look pro =]
What in red meat causes inflammation? I would like to see the RCTs? What inflames, is high carbs diets which is basically sugar. Avoid sugar but eat your 6-10 servings of grains.
Stopped watching at 5 minutes when they said they would discuss how to sit at the piano and didn't discuss at all wrist or elbow positioning, the things I was interested in finding out.
I didn’t watch it but I hope this guy didn’t misinform your viewers. I’m sure there are qualified orthopedic surgeons you could have featured for genuine medical advice rather that magic and folklore.
Oh, so you didn’t watch it. Perhaps you should. Quack, you say. Perhaps you should look up the term, chiropractic, on the internet. You might be surprised.
@@PianoteOfficial Do I need to read an email from a Nigerian prince offering me riches to know that it's false? He's a chiropractor for heaven's sake. His entire practice is based on magic and folklore. Wikipedia: "D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s, after saying he received it from "the other world"; Palmer maintained that the tenets of chiropractic were passed along to him by a doctor who had died 50 years previously.... Its foundation is at odds with mainstream medicine, and has been sustained by pseudoscientificideas such as subluxation and innate intelligence. "
How's your posture?
Chapters:
0:50 How to sit at the piano
2:30 Hand and wrist position
3:19 More on sitting posture
4:29 Warming up - hand stretches
6:11 Neck & shoulder stretches
7:02 How to avoid getting tired
7:53 Arm or finger pain?
9:30 Diet
10:18 Playing with arthritis
12:24 Carpal tunnel
12:58 If you have old injuries
Thanks for giving the chapters. Just a heads up: if you want the chapters to appear on the timeline of the video you need to have an initial 0:00 chapter in the description.
Instablaster
So we can play the piano for ever and ever. Love it. ❤
@Pianote a wise and wonderful piano teacher called Yvonne Enoch taught me fifty years ago that turning your wrist when playing scales was damaging, here's how she explained it.
On a C major scale play notes C, D, E. As soon as your thumb has come off the C pass it under your hand *without* twisting your wrist, play the F then play those four notes over from the C again noting that the only part of the hand that is moving is the thumb.
Your knuckles should stay at right angles to the notes as seen from above the same as when you play a five finger scale with *no* movement of the elbow other than to move in the direction of the hand. It does *not* kink out sideways causing the wrist to twist, this is what causes the pain in the wrist and arm.
Practice this with relaxed wrist, arm and elbow before moving on. Keep your shoulders loose too.
Next play the four notes but this time being aware that as your thumb has moved under your hand it has automatically transfered the fingers onto the next five notes of the scale with the knuckles still at right angles to the keys as seen from above and let the fingers complete the scale.
Come back down the scale being aware that when you transfer your hand over the thumb from F to third finger on E that again there is no twist of the wrist, no flick of the elbow, knuckles at right angles to the keys and the fingers fall automatically onto the correct notes as your thumb spreads back on to the C. Use your body movement, lean sideways a bit to help keep your arm relaxed. Oh and don't hold your breath while concentrating!
The work is all done by the thumb and that is what needs training and exercise to save the rest of the limb and your back from tension.
You have shown me so much I didn't know and opened my eyes to new things, I hope I'm repaying you and that this is helpful. I've been watching you twist that wrist for a while and wondering if you had any pain from playing like that so I hope this little exercise is useful.
I was a child with small hands when I learnt this so anyone can do it btw.
Thanks for all the lovely work you do here. All the very best to you and your team. xx
Thank you SO much for sharing this wonderful knowledge!
You're very welcome ☺️ hope it was of use and not impertinent to such an excellent teacher 😊
Yes, thank you so much for taking the time to share!
My pleasure Captain ☺️
The posture was hard at first but now I'm used to it
Hi there! Concerning your sore forearm. If it's something to do with your tendons, (tendonitis or tennis elbow) try reducing your lactose intake. You can get lactose free milk and see what happens over a period of a couple of months. Lactose can be quite damaging to your tendons if your body doesn't produce enough lactase to digest it. This REALLY helped solve this problem for me!
Oh interesting! Thanks!
Very happy you made this video! Because me being a beginner i never even though to watch
my posture/positioning while I'm playing/practicing the piano. Also it would be nice to hear
the story of tattoo. I only asked because I want to get one but i can't think of nothing to put
on my body forever. And as always love the expressive way you talk with your voice and the
poetic way you use your hands when talking! Thanks!
:51 to 2:30 was really eye opening. Thank you.
the most calming voice i've ever heard
That was like the best answer to piano posture I have ever seen :)
I got a piano for Christmas yesterday so now I’m gonna be watching u a lot more!
Very important topic. Please do more videos about piano playing and health! (And pls with evidence-based information)
Yes, next time please use evidence-based expertise.
Presenting pseudoscience undermines confidence in your judgment.
Your videos are really helping me to grow as a piano player! Thank you!
Hey... Beginner here.. thank you for everything. How far from the piano should we sit? My problem: when move both hands on arpeggios upwards and my left hand comes in front of my torso, my arm seems weirdly twisted and uncomfortable, unless I lean a bit backwards which I assume is not healthy?? Trying to find a solution but at my age I found no teacher to guide me and no videos on the web to tackle this.
Great video! and perhaps a follow up basic 10 min (or less) pre-playing stretch routine would be nice! cheers
Excellent advise from the Chiropractor, I wonder what his piano playing is like...
I do like the "tucking" in the pelvis ...
yeah he was very clear about that.
Pianote is just so helpful for a beginner such as myself! Love from Brazil 💚💛
Oh, and a typical beginner's question:
Should I always sit on the center of the bench? (Because I'm practicing "Moonlight Sonata", and even without noticing, I tend to sit more on the left corner since it kinda makes easier to access where most of the notes are happening)
Very nice😍lots of love from india💚
Great lesson as usual. I watched more of your tutorial and I found them very easy to understand. I am from Madagascar Island, east of africa and just a new on piano matter but I started to gain some interesting stuff already from these.
I want to visit Madagascar one day. I was obsessed with the island when I was a kid. It's one of the first places I could point to on a globe 🌎 😅 good luck with playing piano
@@DKy0 you will have a warm welcome to our country. 🥰. Where do you live by the way?
@@razafinimananatantely8472 😊 I'm from England but live in Germany
@@DKy0 glad to know😃. I want to visit England some day....but not sure how this can happen😃😀. ..until that let's get some courses on pianote 😅
Wonderful video and just in time as I’m icing my upper back because...... I’m addicted to playing the piano! I joined pianote a month ago and I can’t learn fast enough! Guess I need to take more breaks😬
Good advice! Thanks for this video.
Definitely stretching is a key!
@@stacer1962 well stretching is really helpful before playing instruments especially piano. Do you play piano?
Do you have any suggestions for people with severe neuropathy? I have terminal cancer and my treatments have resulted in severe neuropathy. I have to take meds to reduce the pain of the pins and needles it gives me, and that leaves me with the inability to feel the keys with my fingers, and for my foot, it feels like I’m constantly stepping on rocks.
I have started taking my shoes off so that I can slide my foot up on the pedal a little bit higher so that I can feel the arch of my foot on the pedal and then I slide it back down so I know that I truly am on the pedal. Then I simply lift my foot up and down knowing that my foot should still be on the pedal.
Do you have any other advice for people with severe neuropathy?
This is a helpful episode. Lol. Maybe tomorrow I'll let myself to do stretching before practicing. I do not have a good posture when playing I believe
@@stacer1962 ooh I see. Thanks for that. Well, I can call myself a hunchback everytime I play and it hurts my back withouth noticing that I have that posture as I sit there in a couple of time. Maybe I can call that bad I think?
Very informative video, thank you!
This was so useful
I have RSI and never heard those things about diet, will try it out and hope to get less inflammation! Thanks a lot for this info
@@stacer1962 the diet stuff you mean? What's fear mongering about it?
Please check out the Taubman approach if you are experiencing RSI
@@Sitbon08 the what approach?
Joshua Garcia. Dorothy Taubman was a leading piano teacher based in the USA who taught at Juilliard. Edna Golandsky was one of her pupils and continues Dorothy’s work focusing on healthy coordinated playing to prevent injury at the piano. Please see my previous links to the Golandsky Institute or google for more information.
Really loved it
My teacher never taught me this😣 Thank you Lisa💖
Wow! Such great information about posture and avoiding stress! Thank you for sharing!
I notice at least from the camera angle that you are sitting much higher than my adjustable bench will allow. what is the angle of your forearm to the keys? Is your elbow higher than the keyboard?
Excellent video! I'll sure watch it again in the future
I dont know why, but since I've started trying to use proper posture and technique, I've actually started having a lot more pain flare ups, that I haven't had since my RSI 2 years ago.
I played for about 3 hours yesterday, I woke up and my neck and back were screaming bloody murder.
How'd you get that pain? Too much time? How was your posture?
In life there's also sports, you know!
This really helped me
Thanks a lot!
Would u please teach us,how to arrange a piano piece...
This was an awesome video. The one that related the most to my way of learning.
Was able to grasp pretty much everything important I had missed, such as the balancing of the posture, and the uhmm "counscious" over the body Propioception haha.
I started playing piano again, and when playing for too long I'd get a lot of pain in different areas. I play much less often now, because it was really painful, but I've done some PT (physical therapy) lately, and along with this video I think I'm ready to go!
Just one question: the ring finger of my right hand usually feels a lot of discomfort when doing some exercises, and while doing some activities (typing, playing videogames, playing an instrument...). It's really easy for me to lose counsciousness over it, and for it to tense. At some point, regardless of what I'm doing with my hands, it gets very tense, mechanical and sloppy.
Have you heard of anything like that? Any stretches that come to mind?
thanks so much so helpfull. I will try everything you suggested. Please keep these coming.:0)
Question, should your hips be in a straight line with your knees or should they be slightly higher? In the video you don't mention this, but it looks like your hips are higher.
Really helpful. Thank you!
Amazing information
Very informative, is there anything that you can add or do to your bench or chair, that would promote good back alignment (lower back tucked in, good tip)?
Hi stacey, proper posture is SUPER important at the piano. Because of the hours that can be spent playing, putting too much stress can lead to discomfort and long-term pain. I know this from decades of playing experience. Not sure what your piano-playing experience is (or medical background), but posture at the piano is something people should learn. It doesn't have to be from a chiropractor though!
@@PianoteOfficial Hi Pianote this is Andre who initiated the comment, I would welcome an answer or a tip on how to promoted good back alignment.
I don't really care about Stacey Brown's reply.
"(ASMR) - Do You Have Perfect Posture?"
Fixed' the title for you ; D
Yeah it's very relaxing.
Thanks for remaining for everything😀😀😀
This is the most underrated thing which nobody talks about.
That's a fact
This is incredible
Nice video 👍! As a current TH-camr, I am contantly searching for new ideas! Nice Job!
Can you please please teach memories by maroon 5
Please
I just love to follow and listen to your videos. I couldn’t imagine having no channel like pianote. Thanks pianote!! Stay safe !
Could you please show me how to play I'm falling by Leela James? Thanks
Thank you so so much for this! It really helped 😄💕🎵
Thanx
hi, can you please make a video how to play abba - dancing queen? I've just watched the bohemian rhapsody one and that vid really help me a lot! thanks in advance!
I really hope this helps me. I had to completely stop playing a few days ago cause my hands and wrist hurts so bad. I'm actually afraid I maybe have hurt myself 😣
Please teach me how to play 30mins melody
And I’m basic beginner in piano
Hi Lisa, thank you for your very interesting tutorial and introducing your guest. Certainly your guest has some very helpful tips. It is a little sad however to read the usual few negative responses.
She's promoting pseudoscience. That's a simple fact.
@@Arfshesaid457 You admitted you didn't even watch the video!
@@PianoteOfficial Do I need to read a horoscope to know that astrology is nonsense?
Hello
How is it to play standing?
Just looking at that guy I'm thinking he is a great advertisement for his own methods. Totally at ease in his own body. What a pity I didn't see this video a few years ago, it might have saved me from injuries in my hands... I'm just a little sorry to find out I have to replace the sugar in my life by broccoli ☹
I never thought about those factors before and so many new words! I cant believe steak make inflammation worse :( Atleast he did not tell you eat tomato or peas:)
Such a useful video!
Thanks
Nice 🎹
please teach meeeeee
My problem is getting my arms comfortable. I have long arms.
Could you do a tutorial on Piece By Piece by Kelly Clarkson the American Idol version? I just adore that song its so beautiful and I would love to be able to learn and play it for my family.
Ear training. If you hear it, you can play it. Try not to be dependent on reading music & having someone show you what to play. If you figure it out for yourself the rewards are amazing.
Dr?
Hello 👋 Lisa
Avengers Endgame - Portals plz teach this one🙏🙏🙏😢
My back hurts after like 4 hours of playing, then I have to stop, but my posture is correct though
4 hours is too long for one session.
You should always stand up and walk around for a few minutes after 30 minutes of sitting (if possible), that might help you.
Actually 4 hours is the minimum amount of time for me to practice, I love to practice. It's never too much I'm a Ling Ling wannabe. It's not as bad nowadays but sometimes the back pain really gets to me
I'll take the advice of taking small breaks in between practice sessions though =)
@@Dominique632 what do you do for back pain? I'm 6'5 and have back pain almost all the time playing
Are you dropping your wrist when you play? Your back may be trying to compensate. Try to break every 20min.
I play guitar and I would love to play the piano but I am so rough!!! 😂
I could be a awesome drum player instead of a pianist
Request: would you be willing to create a video on how to have musical conversations? I'm thinking of dueling banjos or 2 performers playing 1 piano each or something. If it would help, then I could find sample videos.
Thanks for sharing. But sometimes there is too much Okay.Okay.Okay.Okay.Okay...
funny that musicians and athletes are on opposite teams.
This girl is the cutest thing in the world.
so.. i learned the correct posture.. now all i need is to learn the piano.. :) thanks for the video though.. looking forward to buy a piano bench as i am using regular chair for now.. idk if its a must.. but i guess i will look pro =]
where did you two go after shooting this video...and what did you do...?
U shouldnt wear dark top in a dark room when the video is about posture. It's hard to see ur posture with that dark top in a dark room.
Ah great point thank you!
Instructions unclear: Have joined an ashram and am currently sitting with both feet behind my head.
Hahaha let me know how that goes!
What in red meat causes inflammation? I would like to see the RCTs? What inflames, is high carbs diets which is basically sugar. Avoid sugar but eat your 6-10 servings of grains.
The way you played the aropeggio is not good ergonomically. Let the arm take the hand and fingers where want to go. Gliding across the keyboard.
Stopped watching at 5 minutes when they said they would discuss how to sit at the piano and didn't discuss at all wrist or elbow positioning, the things I was interested in finding out.
LIKE #124 🔥🔥
I see no doctor here. 🙄
this brings me memories from Two and a Half Men 😂
@@TopGunMvk Same lol
Pretty sure Chiropractor's should be advising anyone anything regarding the body. Probably better to get advice from a real specialist.
Am i the only person weirded out when he was recommending "nutrition" to play keys?😑
Omg im so early 😱
Chiropractor is not a pianist. We should lean forward when we play.
i live on red meat and alcohol.
Disappointing that you promoted chiropractic. It’s not science based.
Next time use a real physician rather than a quack.
I didn’t watch it but I hope this guy didn’t misinform your viewers.
I’m sure there are qualified orthopedic surgeons you could have featured for genuine medical advice rather that magic and folklore.
Oh, so you didn’t watch it. Perhaps you should. Quack, you say. Perhaps you should look up the term, chiropractic, on the internet. You might be surprised.
@@Arfshesaid457 I really think you should watch the video before making claims about the people in it.
@@PianoteOfficial Do I need to read an email from a Nigerian prince offering me riches to know that it's false?
He's a chiropractor for heaven's sake. His entire practice is based on magic and folklore.
Wikipedia: "D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s, after saying he received it from "the other world"; Palmer maintained that the tenets of chiropractic were passed along to him by a doctor who had died 50 years previously.... Its foundation is at odds with mainstream medicine, and has been sustained by pseudoscientificideas such as subluxation and innate intelligence. "
@@PianoteOfficial I'm just curious. Why didn't you present a genuine, evidence-based medical authority such as an orthopedic surgeon?
Useful until he said "avoid red meat"... stick to the skeletal system you muppet 😑
Alex Jones eats nothing but red meat.
Very helpful. Thanks for this information.