How to Find YOUR Best Hand Position at the Piano! 🎹

Welcome to an in-depth exploration of piano technique! In this video, I'll break down HAND POSITION, which is one of the most important foundations of a healthy piano technique.
What You'll Learn:
- What a good hand position looks like in piano technique
- Why improving your hand position will help your facility at the piano
- Pitfalls to avoid with hand position
- 4 exercises you can do at the piano to improve your hand position
Plus, you'll meet Scooter the Skeleton Model!
🎼 First page of both of the scores used in this video: thepianoprof.com/firstpages
👉DOWNLOAD MY FREE PDF TECHNIQUE PRACTICE COMPANION
thepianoprof.com/PracticeComp...
📪Free Weekly Practice Tips: thepianoprof.com/subscribe
📚 BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body (Print): amzn.to/3xavNIo
What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body (Kindle): amzn.to/3L8A8zb
🎥 RELATED VIDEOS:
The Thumb in Piano Technique: • The Thumb in Piano Tec...
Alignment: • Finger Alignment at th...
How to Stop Over-Curving Your Fingers: • How to Stop Over-Curvi...
Forearm Rotation: • Forearm Rotation at th...
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Weight Transfer: • Natural Arm Motion at ...
MY FAVORITE PIANO STUFF:
📗 Recommended Books: thepianoprof.com/books/
🎹 Recommended Technical Exercises: thepianoprof.com/technical-ex...
✍️ My Favorite Piano Gear: thepianoprof.com/gear/
👀 Piano Marvel: The online sight reading resource I recommend most often (use my affiliate link for a $2 per month discount): thepianoprof.com/PianoMarvel
OTHER GREAT STUFF I USE AS A CREATOR:
🥰 Notion: My FAVORITE Organizational Tool - thepianoprof.com/notion
📫 ConvertKit: I love this email client and use it for my weekly newsletter: thepianoprof.com/convertkit
🎥 Descript: Hands down, my FAVORITE video editing software: thepianoprof.com/descript
📝 Paperlike: My favorite iPad screen protector: paperlike.com/prof
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction to Hand Position
1:40 The Hand Bridge
2:31 Fun Facts about hand bones
3:47 Arched bridges and the hand
5:22 Hand Bridge Exercise
6:15 Playing chords and octaves
7:20 Finding your hand position
8:12 Over-curving
9:04 Knuckles
9:37 Demo: Unsupported vs Supported hand
10:29 Ideal hand position
10:55 Pushing up the knuckles
11:55 Fifth finger
12:57 Thumb
13:37 Fifth finger part 2
14:39 Firm fingertips
15:48 Initiating the finger motion
16:07 Loose relaxed fingers
17:03 Lift out of the piano
17:45 Making the change
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NOTE: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 👋
#pianopractice #pianotips #pianolesson

[@TheTmackey]

What a thorough and beautiful lesson. Thank you Prof!

[@vinayak3751]

Thank you professor for uploading this

[@steveodendahl7673]

This video is extremely helpful! One question about chords: do you use the upper arm, flexing at the elbow, and keeping the chording fingers solid but letting the fingers that aren’t depressing a key relax, or do you move the chording fingers at the knuckle without using the upper arm? I’m guessing the former, but please let me know!

[@piano.player]

Thank you prof!

[@ThePianoProfKateBoyd]

You are welcome!

[@koenraaddesmet3086]

Is there a hand position for pianists who have fingers that don’t fit between the blak keys?

[@ThePianoProfKateBoyd]

Watch this next! th-cam.com/video/FqOPWCjadzk/w-d-xo.html

[@zccsa]

I struggle to play between the black keys as my fingers get stuck on the sides, and was hoping you maybe give some advice on what to do. Currently I turn my hand sideways , but this cause a lot of strain.

[@ThePianoProfKateBoyd]

I address this briefly at around 7:07 in this video. In order to avoid getting caught between the black keys you need to play more toward the front of the key. Good luck!

[@zccsa]

@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd The problem I have are for example trying to play middle C# (finger 1) , A ( finger 3) ,1 higher C# (finger 5) in my right hand. My fingers seem to get more stuck if i move to the front of the keys than to the back .

[@samrogers9515]

Beginners ... Everybody .... Watch this video!

[@ThePianoProfKateBoyd]

Thanks for spreading the word! 🥰

[@Sitbon08]

I prefer to talk about ‘hand shape’ rather than position.

[@annfung7402]

Can pianists develop arthritis in fingers?🙏🏻

[@ThePianoProfKateBoyd]

Yes, unfortunately!