Piano Guidance
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Should I sit in the middle of the piano?

In general, you want to be sitting in the middle of the piano. However, if a piece you're playing only uses the lower or upper part of the instrument, you can alter where you sit to make it more comfortable. Keep your arms at your sides. Don't push your elbows out when playing.

Is a 6th chord also a 13th?
Is a 6th chord also a 13th?

Dominant chords with a 6th are: Dominant chords with 6th are called 13th chords. May 27, 2021

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What is the best piano technique?
What is the best piano technique?

Your elbows should be at a comfortable distance from your body, bent outward. As you move up and down the keyboard with your fingers, your elbows...

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When taking piano lessons, students focus heavily on their hands and the keys in front of them. But one area that may be overlooked by many students is their overall posture while sitting at the piano. Learning to play the piano often involves long hours of practice in addition to your lessons. If your posture isn’t correct, then you could be setting yourself up for back pain between piano lessons. Correct piano posture will allow you to play effortlessly and painlessly. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Posture Matters

Proper hand posture and sitting posture when at the piano is essential.

Using the correct physical form not only helps you to play more technically challenging pieces, but it will also make play easier overall. For those just starting out with the piano, you must make sure from the start that your posture and hand position is on point. As you start to learn more and develop your skills, your posture may change slightly – and that’s OK. What’s important is to start off in the right position, so that you can naturally develop over time. Correct posture can help you to avoid strain and possible discomfort in the long run.

Correct Piano Posture

So, what is the correct way to sit at the piano? You should: Make sure the piano bench is at the right height. When you place your hands on the keyboard, you will know the piano bench is at the right height if your arms can rest at a 90-degree angle. If you sit too low, then it may cause you to raise your shoulders. However, sitting too high can cause you to slouch. Keep your distance. You also don’t want to be too close to the keyboard. Make sure you’re about 8 to 12 inches away from the keyboard with your abdomen. If you sit too close, then you risk not being able to appropriately see the keyboard and your arm movements will be limited. Don’t sit fully on the bench. Your thighs need to be free to make pedaling easier, so those should be off the bench. Keep your feet on the floor. Your feet should be on the floor and comfortably apart, close to the pedals of the piano. Make sure you don’t tuck or cross your feet when playing. Sit in middle C. In general, you want to be sitting in the middle of the piano. However, if a piece you’re playing only uses the lower or upper part of the instrument, you can alter where you sit to make it more comfortable. Keep your arms at your sides. Don’t push your elbows out when playing. Instead, let them fall loosely at your sides and keep your shoulders relaxed. Be proud! You’re learning the piano and should be proud of it! Make sure to sit up tall and straight with your shoulders aligned with your ears. Learning to play the piano with proper posture makes learning easier and, ultimately, this habit will help you master the necessary skills.

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Is ivory a luxury?

Elephant ivory has been considered a valued luxury material across cultures and continents for millennia.

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What thickness pick should a beginner use?

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Is there a market for old upright pianos?

This extends to the musical instruments of the past. Yes, there is a "market" for good used upright pianos (which are extremely hard to find, especially those that are worth reconditioning at considerable cost).

Piano values vary with condition, age, type of wood, style and the piano market conditions in the area you live in. Rare and collectible items appreciate and it is not necessarily the age in years that best determine the accurate valuation, but more over the quality of current information and research that is used. Due to the instrument's 11,000 parts; such as different kinds of wood, wool, cloth, iron, buckskin, glues, and finish, the amount service that it has received, and how much the piano has been played. The age of a piano matters a great deal for it's value and can tell a lot about the way the piano was manufactured and what kind and quality of wood was used to build your piano. See: The Rating & Grading Guide . "Upright Grand", "Cabinet Grand" or "Inverted Grand" are terms usually referring to certain large 50" + upright pianos and taller. Due to their towering height, these instruments usually had string lengths and musical capabilities equal and often superior to actual grand pianos, thus being labeled "Upright Grand", "Cabinet Grand" or "Inverted Grand" by their manufactures.

Can a beginner play Für Elise?
Can a beginner play Für Elise?

The full version of Fur Elise is considered reasonably difficult, broadly an intermediate piece around grade 5, but a shorter arrangement of only...

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How can I focus and remember?

Try these five techniques: Assign meaningfulness to things. ... Learn general and specific later. ... Recite out loud in your own words until you...

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What is the top of a piano key called?
What is the top of a piano key called?

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Should you put a rug under a grand piano?
Should you put a rug under a grand piano?

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