During the early months of the pandemic, Andrea and I watched our fair share of Netflix.
So much so, that we even ended up watching Jurassic Park. And I’m not talking about the more recent films… I’m talking about the original.
Jurassic Park is not really our cup of tea but watching it was worthwhile in the end. Because as we watched the velociraptors rip at our screen we were, believe it or not, reminded of piano students.
With their tiny little arms, velociraptors look like piano students who are sitting way too close to the keys or way too far down from the keys.
I know that you probably spend a lot of lesson time correcting piano posture but at home, many kids are playing with “dinosaur” arms.
The comparison is light-hearted but, in reality, this is a technical issue that can slow your students’ development tremendously.
And your parents need to know about it.
So, we’ve written an email for your piano families to encourage them to be constantly monitoring their kids for proper piano posture.
Fix Posture Problems And Power Up Progress
When piano students struggle, we assume it is because of some big problem related to their coordination, learning differences, or motivation.
But often eliminating a little problem makes all the difference.
Anyone who has struggled to fall asleep because of a buzzing mosquito knows that you don’t need sleep therapy or medication to solve the issue… you simply need a rolled-up magazine and good aim.
Piano posture is a “little” issue that, when fixed, results in big improvements.
But it can’t be fixed in your studio. It needs to be fixed at home where kids spend most of their time, likely sitting on a piano bench that is too close or too low.
To remedy this problem, copy the email below, add your own details and information and send it to your piano families.
But Before You Send The Email…
Since we are talking about dinosaurs, it seems like a great time to mention our primer book, My Piano Teacher Is Prehistoric.
My Piano Teacher Is Prehistoric is composed for early primer piano students. Children using this book will gain confidence playing with A, B, C, D, and E in middle C position.
Like all of the resources in the Very Useful Piano Library, My Piano Teacher Is Prehistoric contains music and so much more!
Inside you will discover fun-to-play dinosaur songs with wonderful lyrics, note reading, sight-reading, and rhythm games, a practice tracker, and a certificate of achievement.
Click here or on the cover below to learn more.
A Proper Piano Posture Email For Parents
Hi Susan and Brian,
I hope Kalli has been having a wonderful summer! I also hope she has managed to find some time to play the piano 🙂
During the summer months, when kids are away from the studio and home practice can be rushed, they occasionally develop problems with piano posture. So, I wanted to give you information to help. In any activity (sports, dance, gymnastics, etc.) positioning is very important. It makes a difference in how successful kids are in their activities.
When playing the piano, positioning is particularly important. Often children need some help to find proper piano posture while they practice at home.
Kalli will find it so much easier to complete her home practice if she has a physical setup that gives her a comfortable posture at the piano. It will make the techniques we have been working on so much easier for her.
This week, could you find 10 minutes to sit with Kalli at her piano or keyboard to complete the following checklist?
1. Bench height: The height of Kalli’s piano bench should be adjusted so that when her hands are on the keys her forearms are parallel to the floor. Her wrists should not be below the keyboard, but they should also not be too high. This will allow for comfortable arm and hand movement.
The easiest way to correct the height of her bench is by adding some foam squares under the legs until it is raised to the correct height. Add squares until her arms are in a straight line from the back of her hands to her elbows. This line should then be parallel to the floor.
Having her sit on books or other “props” on the bench can be uncomfortable, so I like to suggest you add the needed height under the legs. Foam squares are easy to find at any “big box” store.
2. Bench distance: When at the bench, Kalli should be sitting so that she has to reach for the keys while still keeping bent elbows that are comfortably away from her body. The piano must not be too close. Help her find a distance that is comfortable, and then make a small mark on your floor with tape so that she can find the same spot with the bench each time she practices.
3. Dangling feet: If Kalli’s legs are not long enough to comfortably rest with her flat feet on the floor, a small step stool should be placed under her feet so that her legs are bent at a 90-degree angle. Having a solid base for her feet will help her maintain the correct height and distance from the piano.
You may find that these three points are difficult to achieve if Kalli is using a keyboard that doesn’t have a keyboard stand. Resting a keyboard on a desk or table can make it really tricky to find the correct seating arrangement. If this is the case, please contact me and I can help you locate an inexpensive stand that can make all the difference in the world.
Thank you for your help – I know Kalli will find her practice to be much more productive and I look forward to seeing her proper piano posture when she returns to lessons!
Take care,
Andrea
I feel so validated! I’ve been telling kids not to play with “TRex” arms for years! LOL.
I also tell my students not to use T-Rex arms. I have some students who are not into dinosaurs. They are discouraged from using Kangaroo arms.
Every year I am very clear about what the at home practice set up should look like. It never fails that sometime during the year I will find out someone is practicing on the floor or on their bed. Another good clue for dangling feet at home is when you have to remind them to keep weight on their feet on the stool during lessons.
This year I am going to try an idea from Vibrant Music Teachers. Take a picture of them sitting correctly in the studio. Send this home and have the parents recreate this at home. Then the parents send back a picture of their child practising at home.