Where do you sit at a piano?

[Bernard]

I sit so that I straddle c-d-e at middle c, like you, Andy. Only slightly to the left of d.

[Rontuner]

Stand, sit, shuffle left & right - even around the right side sometimes to tune the treble...

[RealPlayer]

I don’t think about a precise position, but have noticed lately that I want the bench a tad more in the bass direction. But then, I was never completely happy with the bench/keyboard relationship.

And I want my bicycle seat a tad lower and bars a tad higher.

Our posture changes with age.

[AdagioM]

I mostly stand at my piano, and sing. It’s the right height for my glasses and choir music!

[AndyD]

Shearing of course was blind so would be feeling differently.
I've tried shutting my eyes to play (fail) but often play in near darkness. Same with juggling, can't even run 3 balls with my eyes shut.

Here's the piece

Link to video

Simple but those left hand jumps are deceptively difficult, for me; though the hardest of his to learn was 'What are you doing for the Rest of your Life'.
Most of his published arrangments are easypeasy and people like the lyrical quality and close notes.

[Axtremus]

If I intend to play a piano, I generally sit within arm's length from its keyboard.

[ShiroKuro]

@AndyD That was lovely!!

[wtg]

Yes, indeed! Very nice, @AndyD .

[DougG]

@Axtremus

Facing which way?

[AndyD]

Thanks, if you fancy having a try

[Mark]

I enjoyed that Andy. Great job!

[CHAS]

@DougG Must ponder that.

[AndyD]

@Mark said in Where do you sit at a piano?:

I enjoyed that Andy. Great job!

Thanks.

I discovered something yesterday. Yuja Wang centres her elbow for left hand jumps!

Bit like a mature juggler who knows to clamp his elbow to his side to minimise the high arm movements that are difficult to control accurately, Yuja reduces to a minimum her high arm movement, and sticks her elbow out so it is the centre of the jumps left and right, improving both her forearm/hand accuracy and speed.
She is a marvel of efficiency, relaxation and speed.

[kluurs]

I've posted this pianist before - here playing her transcription of Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones. I've never seen anyone sit like this - and how she doesn't fall is a good question.

[ShiroKuro]

@kluurs interesting! I must have missed it the last time you shared this video.

In addition to her seat/sitting style, I'm also curious about what kind of after-processing she does the sound, because I'm pretty sure that piano (with those sunken keys etc) doesn't actually sound that good.

What do you think?

[Bernard]

@kluurs Her 'sits bones' (ischial tuberosities) seem firmly planted on the seat. My fear would be the chair not having enough friction against the floor and suddently flying backwards. (I'd almost wager to bet it's happened to her!).

There's a lot of show in this video, and some music.

[AndyD]

She has her skirt on back to front.

Interesting chair; looks like a very solid and heavy height-adjustable, iron-framed old chair (with new seat), the leg ends having been squared off to provide friction.
But no cushioning

[Bernard]

"Position yourself so as to be able to reach both ends of the keyboard without leaning to either side." -- Chopin