Posture is one of the most critical factors in piano playing.

Why is posture important?

When one plays piano, her/his body has to become one with the instrument. At least the player's body has to be connected with the piano.

The weight of the piano player's upper body has to be placed upon the piano keyboard.

The Feet have to be set on the floor to support the body weight.

Feet have to be attached to the ground, absorbing the energy from the earth and bring back good vibration from piano into the center of the earth. (hahaha, that's my imagination) Anyway, feet have to be placed on the floor solid.

　　　X4 points in piano posture

1, Brain is the control center;Third eye and third Chakra.

• Where to look. Where to put body center, Third eye　

• The third Chakra, navel area ,letting the imaginary belly face breathe

２、Wrists

• How to use wrists

• cooperation( communication) between Left and Right side hands

３, Fingers

• Always keep touching( keep connected even just with skin 、Use of fingertips

• Thumb and pinky get easily come off from their position on keyboard

• Give high fives to the wood fairy wholives at the bottom of the keyboard

４、Elbows

• How to use elbows, Penguin arms position

• Never ever let your shoulders rise

• Arm pit Breathing

I always let students of any level pay attention to the posture points above.

It will be too much to explain all the points at once,

so, I will talk today about

.1 Centering of one's body, 3rd Chakra area.

The point beneath the navel( solar plexus) is considered to be the center of consciousness of the inner part of the human body. We call the point、 the 3rd Chakra.

In order to place bodyweight on piano keyboard, keeping a good posture is crucial however, we too often hears teacher or parents telling kids " Good posture!" I also would like to be able to explain clearly why one has to keep a good posture..

My analogy

Suppose, we have a face at the 3rd Chakra( Do not worry, I do not draw faces on my students' tummy) and this belly face has to breathe( Abdominal breathing, right?) If we do not keep the abdomen stretched, curl our back and bend forward, the face will be squashed and it can not breathe. (Does it make sense?)

With this analogy, most of my students understand why they have to keep a good posture.

Next time, I will explain about "Third eye."