do you look at your hands?

[end]

Hi,

I don't know what I should do. Should I look at my hands while playing (sometimes?) or never?

I'm afraid that if I look at my hands I'll get the habit and won't be able to sight read.

I'm a beginner.

Thank you for any help at all.

[xpjamiexd]

To be honest I don't really think it matters, just do what copmes naturally. I sometimes look at my hands or sometimespast them at the keys or - when the mood takes me - I look up or close my eyes. It depends what I'm playing usually but it's imperative that you're comfortable in what your doing. Hope that helps.

[kelly_kelly]

Only when there's a leap or a shift in range, otherwise I just listen. If I look too much, I get somehow disconnected from the music.

[mad_max2024]

I only look when I find leaps.
Sometimes I try to practice with my eyes closed so I can get a better feel for the music.

I wouldn't worry about it too much though. At first you will probably have to look to your hands a lot but after some time you will find you naturally develop an awareness for the keys.

[richard black]

Look as little as possible, and make the most of peripheral vision - i.e. don't look directly at them.

[end]

Thank you all for your replies!!

[hyrst]

Since you are a beginner, I would suggest you spend time actually working on closing your eyes and playing short memorised sections, feeling each of your fingers independently and deciding which one to play, finding specific keys at different places on the keyboard.  Develop your listening and spatial senses.

I find that I never actually look directly at my fingers when I play - always past them.  However, I am not a beginner.  If I am working on a different movement I will sometimes look at my hand for that moment while I work out how it feels and works.  You have more of those moments when you are beginning.  I think the best advice here is to do what is comfortable but to make sure you aren't always looking at your fingers - this can influence posture.  As soon as you know how something feels, move your focus to the feeling.  Just listen and relax.  Don't worry yourself about the 'right thing' too much, focus on the sound instead.

[loonbohol]

I can cetainly play "Joy to the world" blindfolded.

WEll IT is obviously easy.

[hyrst]

Then do so - build up your spatial and aural skills.