"home position"

[renfroejames]

Hi,

I am new to piano and trying to find my way around things. I am having trouble finding a "home position" for my hands - specifically my fingers. My level one books mention - C position, F position, G position, and so on. All of those positions order me to keep my thumb on the C, F, or G and then have my other four fingers sit on the keys one after the other so that all my fingers are on specific keys.

I am finding it easier though to have my fingers generally spread over all of those keys within the position without actually having them on the specific keys like the books tell me to do.

What should I do?

Thanks

[daniloperusina]

I don't understand the question.
Do you mean that the book says that your fingers must sit on the keys while not playing, but that you find it easier to let the fingers "hang in the air" above the keys while not playing?

If so, it's not a big issue. Do as you please. It's a question about relaxing the fingers and having greater control. The more relaxed, the easier it will be to let your fingers sit as near the keys as possible. The nearer the keys, and sometimes definitely on the keys, the more you can control the quality of your sound, your rythm, and your "musical flow". But just the same, sometimes "from the air above" will be better, it depends on what the music is.

I think you should play how you want for now, but do from time to time try the "sit on the keys" thing, as it will be very handy, and indeed even essential, to be able to do that later on.

[renfroejames]

thank you for your help.

[stevebob]

I know little about piano pedagogy and next to nothing about methods of elementary instruction, but I've seen references to the positions mentioned ("C position," etc.).  Though I don't understand this approach or how it benefits beginners, I imagine there's a potential for problems if the student habitually associates specific fingers with specific keys.

Whatever purpose is served by such a convention at the elementary level, then, it's important to understand clearly that any finger may eventually be employed to play any note depending on the context.  As far as I'm aware, this concept of a "home position" that matches particular fingers and keys has no relevance or function within the learning of actual musical repertoire outside the method book.