Keyboard ergonomics

[elementOne]

Well, after not taking piano for the better part of my adult life, I'm back (happily) into lessons. If only I'd kept at it as a kid...

Anyway, I bought a Yamaha P80 this past weekend. It's perfect for what I need right now (great action and sound). I also bought one of those keyboard stands made by Yorkville (single brace, quick release with 4 preset heights). The problem I'm having is with the height of the keyboard. With the stand at it's lowest, and my chair at it's highest I'm still feeling nowhere near comfortable.

Can someone give me some advice as to how to find the proper position with relation to keys and pedal?

The lowest the stand goes places the bottom of my keyboard 26 inches off the ground. That makes the top of the keys 30 inches off the ground. My chair will only raise to about 20 inches off the ground.

Should I look for a stand that goes lower, or just buy a chair that goes higher???

 

[Krakit]

Proper posture for playing a keyboard instrument:

Your fore arms should be parallel to the ground. If your hands are over the keys while your back is straight and your forarms are straight, you've achieved the right height.

I don't know what you or your keyboard are sitting on, but there's no real way to achieve proper posture with one of those "X" stands because your knees won't fit under the keyboard with those crossed metal bars in the way.

Carl

 

[elementOne]

Thanks for the response, Krakit. It is indeed an 'X' style stand.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Why would you want your knees under the keyboard? I think that they can go under but only by a small amount. As far as I can tell "X" style stands don't prevent that. I have noticed that some concert pianists sit with one leg in front of them and the other folded back. The leg in front works the pedals. The other one does nothing so that is the one folded back.

 

[Krakit]

Why would you want your knees under the keyboard? I think that they can go under but only by a small amount. As far as I can tell "X" style stands don't prevent that. I have noticed that some concert pianists sit with one leg in front of them and the other folded back. The leg in front works the pedals. The other one does nothing so that is the one folded back.

There are many times that you would play the piano and use two pedals at once.

I've never noticed anyone "folding a leg back" while playing. I can tell you that I don't play that way. It would be difficult to move either leg out of the way ("folded back") when you are sitting on a bench. It's far more comfortable for both legs to be straight out in front of you.

When I play on an "X" style stand, my knee hits the stand before I can comfortably position my legs the way I like them. The pedal is supposed to be under the keyboard. I find it difficult to use pedals that are under an "X" type stand.

Carl

 

[Ron Schilling]

Try an A-Frame Style Stand

Hi,

I'd try an Ultimate A-Frame (or any other A-Frame-type stand). You can set the height to anything you want and there's nothing blocking your legs and feet to get to the pedals. I simply measured my piano keyboard height at home and then set the stand so my keys would be at the exact same height at the gig. Same thing with the bench--I set the portable to match the height of the home bench.

Yeah, A-frames are a pain to set up, but you can set them up so the keyboard is supported by both the front and rear bars, and they're extremely steady, especially for weighted action keys.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Ron

 

[TexRoadkill]

Obviously your height would have a lot to do with what kind of stand works. I've never noticed problems with an X stand and I usually do the left leg back thing for whatever reason. I'm only 5'8" though. How tall are you Carl?

 

[Krakit]

Obviously your height would have a lot to do with what kind of stand works. I've never noticed problems with an X stand and I usually do the left leg back thing for whatever reason. I'm only 5'8" though. How tall are you Carl?

I happen to be 5'8" too.

I use benches (not stools) and also use Ultimate support A frames and Z frame stands.

I had an X frame but returned it after a week, because my legs couldn't get comfortable.

I also use a lot of pedals (several susteains, volume, wah, phaser, flanger) and these are impossible to use with an X.

But, even with just a sustain, I find that trying to smuggle my foot under the X to get to the pedal is just a trial, and I NEED my knees to fit under my keyboard.

Carl