I’m a lefty. No, I’m not left-handed. But I do sit on the left side of my piano students. Why? Because I’ve always done so. Likely because my piano teacher did so. Likely because her neurotic dog needed to be let out at 5-minute intervals and the door was on that side of her piano. We get into habits for crazy reasons.
Can 5 Feet Make a Difference To Your Piano Students’ Technique?
As you know I’m always looking for ways to change up my teaching, and so I started changing up where I sit and where I stand during a piano lesson. I just wanted to see if it had any sort of impact on my piano students’ playing. For a couple of weeks, I switched sides, stood behind, stood beside, and moved away from the piano completely. My students eyed me with nothing less than complete suspicion.
But the interesting thing was that it actually seemed to improve my students’ technique the further away I stood or sat. When I asked one student why her habitually falling wrists suddenly were lifted (as I sat at my new perch about 5 feet away from the piano) she replied: “Because you were watching me.” Hmmm…
This was a great reminder when it comes to getting out of teaching ruts – sometimes all it takes is a simple change to get the results we’ve been hoping for.
I’ve now started varying where I sit during a lesson based on what we are working on. If my student is polishing a performance piece, I’m further away. If we’re learning a new concept I’m right there beside them. I now switch sides of the piano regularly.
So I want to know…where do you stand or sit? What have you observed from your “piano studio positioning”? I’d love to hear in the comment section below: Are you a lefty? A righty? A stander or a roamer? Sound off below.
Dana M says
LOL, I sit on the left of my students because there isn’t room on the right! I used to sit on the right when the piano was in a different place…. It is all a space issue for me! BUT…. after reading your post, I realize I don’t have to sit in the same spot for lessons. In fact, it is HEALTHIER for me to get up and move around a bit. Especially on the really long lesson days with students back-to-back.
Angie Tse says
This is oh so true! I tend to sit on the right side of my pupil in my wheeled teacher’s chair and this week (first week back from holidays).
The intention has always been for me to ‘roam’ (hence the wheeled chair) but I have not roamed as much as I would like to. Just this week, I noticed that 3 pupils have been playing with their body angled to the right without them realising, which I now suspect is because they were trying to play towards me.
I have now placed a ‘duet bench’ for pupils and this now makes me get out of my chair to get close to the pupil to demonstrate on both their left and right side. I will also be placing my ‘wheeled chair’ away from the piano on certain weeks to change things around. I only wish I have a bigger teaching room and a grand piano so that I can be a complete ‘roamer’… (my wish will come true one day)
Lauren Averill says
I am a righty! However, I’ve got to figure out how to switch things up and to not be so sedentary. Yes, our profession is mighty sedentary….I am an animated teacher, but one who sits and sits. My knees and hips are beginning to complain! Do you have any tips for standing up during the lesson without being too distracting?
Bridget says
I sit on the right because my teacher did as well! I think she did because of space at first, but when she moved into a bigger house, the chair stayed on the right when it easily could have been anywhere.
Myself now, I’ll be looking for more excuses to walk to the bookshelf that is conveniently on the left of the bench. I sometimes have a bad habit of leafing through things on that shelf to find my next paper or book while half listening to a student play if I know the song well enough to not need my full attention. That needs to stop, but the roaming to the left and “pretending” to be distracted may be a new thing! I can see a few of my students picking up on it, while some will be blissfully unaware. Great teachable moments!!
Nicole C Bowers says
I stand on the left. I used to sit, but realized that it wouldn’t matter to the students if I was sitting or standing and figured standing was better for me (after hearing about how sitting is the “new smoking”).
I’d like to roam more, as I think it would change how I hear their pieces and get them more comfortable playing in situations with an audience/examiner in different places. But so far I don’t roam too much.
Kathy G says
I sit or stand to the right, but that’s only because there is another piano on the left. When I started using a laptop to take notes & write up the student’s assignment during lessons, I rested it on the folded back lid of the piano. So I was to the right and in front of the student. But I also roam and often stand behind the student when s/he is playing, in an attempt to get out of their line of sight and make them less nervous. I’ve never asked how that makes them feel! But it keeps a lot of them from turning to me whenever they make a mistake in the middle of playing, which is good. I find myself sitting more (in a wheeled office chair on the right side) these days — getting older and more tired? LOL — but hop up often to plop down next to the student on one side or the other to demonstrate or play a duet.
I also make it a point to get the students off their bench, especially when we are doing something new. ‘Go over to the other piano and play me some thirds going up on white keys’ ‘Go over to the other piano and play and name all the A’s’. With older students, I often have them go over to the other piano and play a passage from memory, or even a whole piece, just to get out of the comfort zone of their usual instrument. Great post — I’m going to be more aware of this next week.
Zelna van Zyl says
Wow, you’re lucky to have two pianos in your room. I think it is a great idea for them to switch instruments from time to time. I also like the idea of having a wheeled office chair to protect your back. Enjoy your teaching.
Monique McIntosh says
I stand towards the back a little bit most of the time because I can’t sit still for long periods of time. I notice my students like having the space. If my legs get tired or we are in a discussion, I sit in a chair next to the piano so I can be at eye level. Of course, there are times when I may demonstrate, play along, or explain a concept in which case I sit at the bench with the student. I sit to the right most of the time because I am left handed. Sometimes the student moves to the chair while I am at the piano. They like the chance to be the observer. If the concept needs a lot of explaining or we play a game, we sit on the floor. I guess that puts me at all over the place depending on what is going on in the lesson.
Leon says
I am usually at the second piano during most stages of the lesson, which gives some distance. When we are in our ” planning” stage I sit at a small table next to the pupil as we pencil in details of tempo, touch, tone, and form. But, at a point, usually about 6 weeks before a competition or an important performance, I either sit about 15-20 feet away so that the pupil has freedom to ” project” to the audience(” me”), or I pace around the music room.
You are right about this: any change in the order of the lesson is good, because, I feel, it keeps pupil and teacher alert and interested! Variety is, indeed, the spice of good teaching and good playing!
Leon says
I am usually at the second piano ( parallel keyboards) during most stages of the lesson, which gives some distance. When we are in our ” planning” stage I sit at a small table next to the pupil as we pencil in details of tempo, touch, tone, and form. But, at a point, usually about 6 weeks before a competition or an important performance, I either sit about 15-20 feet away so that the pupil has freedom to ” project” to the audience(” me”), or I pace around the music room.
You are right about this: any change in the order of the lesson is good, because, I feel, it keeps pupil and teacher alert and interested! Variety is, indeed, the spice of good teaching and good playing!
Ashley says
I have been on the left for years because I have two pianos in an l-shape and the other piano bench is always “in the way”. But I tend to move further from the piano as we get closer to a recital or performance. I don’t want my presence to be a crutch anymore than a deterrent from the playing process. I’m curious how they would act of I sat at the other piano bench. Dueling pianos?
Mary Aalgaard says
I usually sit on the right side, but sometimes, I just feel like standing up. I do roam a little, especially if they’re looking at something new. I like to give them a little space to try it out for themselves without me telling them what to do.
SonicPiano says
I sit on the left side because my small desk with my laptop is there and I can make notes while I observe. But when I’m not taking notes I roam all over the studio and occasionally sit in the easy chair in the corner that I set up for a parent or caregiver to sit and observe. I’ve noticed that my students don’t like it when I stand behind them…it seems to make them nervous. As this isn’t my intention I avoid doing it.
Linda says
Used to sit on the right, as did all my teachers. Have shifted to the left if someone is watching who might interrupt our train of thought to block their view and also on the right to allow someone like a parent the ability to see what is going on. Sometimes the chair just is easier to set down on either side closest to where the chair was at the other piano. I have 2 uprights that are back to back. If the chair is in the back of the room , then on 1 piano it is on the left and on the other piano on the right if I feel lazy to walk around the piano. My youngest students use the older piano.
Jeannie says
Usually I am to the right; however, I do have 4 KORG stage pianos in the ‘piano room’ which I rotate lessons on. Certain parents sit outside the ‘piano room’ in their vehicle — that being the case, the student does lesson in front of the window so parent can watch and I can raise window if I want parent to hear something. A couple of my ADD students sit at that window so they think Mom is watching and they behave better. I can sit on either side of piano but the piano that is used most is in front of window to waiting room and I sit on right. I move around in my chair a lot but I am still on the right. Windows are very important in my little town as there had been a piano teacher with a ‘not so good’ reputation. Felt very blessed to be able to rent the old radio station that has a lot of windows.
Sandra says
I move around a lot. Especially with the beginners and early grades. This is partly to facilitate my teaching style ….but also because I find changing positions frequently is better for my body. ….I do notice that some students get nervous if I stand behind them. If I sense this is happening, I will move slightly so that they can see me in their peripheral vision.
Susan says
I sit on A large exercise ball, it helps with my posture and energy.I rollaround from the left to the right and back again :-). I find that anytime I change upwhat I’m doing physically it changes the students behavior and posture at the piano.I totally agree with Andrea!I work very close when we’re beginning apiece and score studying. As we get closer and closer to performance I actually move around and try to distract my students with hideous Coughing, babies crying, abrupt sneezing!I reward them if they can hold their focus. Love your blogs
Mallory says
I used to sit on the right because my teacher did, but I kept having to switch sides to play the teacher duets. It was always an awkward transition, but I did that for a LONG time! I’ve recently switched to the left at the homes where it works.
Milla says
I’m a “roamer”. I usually stand and move around as needed. I sit for duet playing, and when a student is ready to ” pass” a piece, I sit on chair on some distance from the piano, making ” an audience”.
Michele Tamtom says
I switch sides depending on their dominant side. For those that are left handed I teach from the left, righties get the right side. I find that lefty students learn better if taught from the left side… Im only close in if we are working on a new technique or articulation. If we are polishing I am away from the keys…usually hanging out at the end of the grand making notes. (Im bad for using the flat surface of my grand as a quasi-desk). I find I can hear the nuances better if I am out in the studio rather than right at the keys. I rarely sit except when doing demo. I’m famous for grandious waving and flapping of hands and arms when trying to get students to add in more dynamic…i also ‘conduct’ rhythm occasionally when a student needs to correct tempo or bring out the heavier beat… someday I’ll have to video my teaching…I’m sure it’s fit for a comedic skit somewhere. SNL Parody perhaps?? LOL
Eleanor Baldwin says
Whenever I go to the bathroom, my students suddenly play much better. Whatever we have been working on sounds flawless! Does this only happen to me?
Emily says
I was honestly just thinking about this! My piano is in a corner, so I always sit on the left, and I was thinking it was time to move it (I have lots of space to put it elsewhere) As soon as my husband gets home I’m going to!
Gwen says
After going to the doctor and finding out the muscle spasms I’ve been having on the left side of my chest is from teaching, (I sit on the left side of my students) I’ve been encouraged to move around when I teach for long hours. I guess it’s from stretching with my left side always to point or help my student follow along in their music. Crazy to find out that that moving around can help your student as well as yourself.
Gregory Porilo says
I tend to stand most of the time but if I sit then I’ll sit at whichever side is their weakest hand, which is usually the left.
Christobel says
I usually sit on the left for duets and assisting the weaker hand of the righthanded students. I think I will try to sit on the right for my lefthanders. That was a good idea of Michele’s! I roam when I feel a bit stiff after 4 hours, or when I feel inspired, talking during their playing and gesticulating. The different distances for different tasks and closer for beginners and the very young you have to almost be on their bench.
Linda says
I sit on the right side of my students. But I, too, have learned the further away I am from my student, the more they loosen up. I have one in particular that gets very nervous. So I have been standing up and walking around in back of her. She started to relax and played more at ease. I will try this with my other students.
Zelna van Zyl says
I switch sides and pay attention to that particular hand or lift it in some bars to see if the other hand can cope on its own. Occasionally I will stand behind them and gently touch a shoulder or elbow that isn’t in the correct position. Prior to an exam or a public performance, I will move far away and video tape them. Occasionally I even leave the room and listen from outside the window.
Bev says
I took lessons not long after college and marriage, from a terrific teacher but she often sat in the corner behind me and yelled when I wasn’t doing rhythm correctly or dynamics, etc. It made so nervous because I never knew when to anticipate the “yell”. I HATED it; made me sooo nervous. I have very little room in my studio and sit to the right because that’s what my beginning teacher did!
Anne says
I’m a righty. I notice my students do quite well when I leave the room! Sometimes I delay my return a little to listen.
Paula says
I am also a lefty (due to space). However, I remember learning once that the human brain prefers to receive verbal instruction through the right ear. So I googled it… here is an interesting excerpt from an article in livescience.com
—-Not only do humans prefer to hear in the right ear, we actually hear information better in our right ears, Tommasi said.
But the question of which ear “hears better” is not that simple, according to previous research, he added.
“It depends on the type of input: speech is heard ‘better’ with the right ear, if the characteristics to be processed are those connected to the sounds of a given language (i.e phonemes), whereas the left ear might have an advantage in discriminating non-phonemic aspects of speech (i.e. prosody, emotional cues, etc.),” Tommasi said.
And for music, environmental sounds and noises, there are differences between the capacities of the brain hemispheres and thus the ears.
Pitch, timbre and loudness are discriminated better with left ear (right hemisphere), but duration is better discriminated with the right ear (left hemisphere).
http://www.livescience.com/9679-people-prefer-ear-listening.html
Andrea says
Thanks so much for sharing! This is really interesting.
Daniel Goodall Tuition says
Hi Andrea! Thanks for the post!
I too did a similar experiment in December.
I am usually a right side of the piano guy. I have a large bench at my pianos where my student is centred to the piano, and usually I am a foot away on the right hand side on the bench.
Towards the end of the year, I decided to float around, turn the opposite way, stand behind, or even stand in front as if I were an audience.
At one stage also, I needed to grab a resource from my store-room. I popped into the next room to quickly get it, however I decided to stay there a moment longer while listening to a particular student finish their piece.
My students too, gave me looks of suspicion. But in tern, I discovered they became more confident when practicing and playing pieces for me. I have been doing the same ever since.
Your post has confirmed that I’m doing the right thing. 🙂
Wendy says
Hi, I’m just a student, but I play terribly in my lessons when the teacher is too close. I know he needs to see my hands and the music and I suspect his eyes are going…but I have proximity alert screaming in my brain and I make stupid mistakes constantly!
Melinda says
I have usually been limited to one side or the other due to space, and also tend to need to be fairly close because of that too. But we’re going to be building a home soon! And while my studio room will be small (around 11x11ish), it will be a dedicated space for teaching, so I’ll have a lot more leeway to switch things up!
Andrea says
So exciting! New studios bring so many fresh ideas 🙂