practising the piano sitting on the floor

[pytheamateur]

I have the Bottazzi Technique DVDs.  In one of the DVDs she recommends practising the piano sitting on the floor.  She says it's kind of like a secret thing professionals do as an exercise.  Apparently, French and Russian pianists do it quite a lot.

Does anyone do this here?  Please could you explain the reasoning behind it and why it is beneficial.

Thanks.

[nyiregyhazi]

I have the Bottazzi Technique DVDs.  In one of the DVDs she recommends practising the piano sitting on the floor.  She says it's kind of like a secret thing professionals do as an exercise.  Apparently, French and Russian pianists do it quite a lot.

Does anyone do this here?  Please could you explain the reasoning behind it and why it is beneficial.

Thanks.

For some reason, many people claim that higher stools offer more available arm-weight. However. sitting on the floor shows that this is actually just nonsense. There's so much weight to interact with that it's a good way of working the hand hard and developing specific actions- but you have to be careful not to overwork. I also like to practise finger movements from a standing position, to feel how much the fingers are capable of without arm pressure.

[keyboardkat]

One pianist who was a fellow student of David Bradshaw with me, told me that he wished he could perform while sitting on the floor, so much articulation and accuracy did it give him.

[countrymath]

how can someome reach the keys while sitting in the floor?

[pytheamateur]

how can someome reach the keys while sitting in the floor?

You have to raise your arms.  I still find it awkward and uncomfortable that I have not committed to doing it as practice, especially when I'm not sure why it is beneficial.

[remy]

I have the Bottazzi Technique DVDs.  In one of the DVDs she recommends practising the piano sitting on the floor.  She says it's kind of like a secret thing professionals do as an exercise.  Apparently, French and Russian pianists do it quite a lot.

Does anyone do this here?  Please could you explain the reasoning behind it and why it is beneficial.

Thanks.

Considering the strain it puts on the shoulders, elbows, and forearms, I think she's absolutely nuts to do this.


remy

[nyiregyhazi]

Considering the strain it puts on the shoulders, elbows, and forearms, I think she's absolutely nuts to do this.


remy

What strain? Based on this logic, you could say a person is nuts to play the piano at all- considering how many people put strain on all those by playing in a regular fashion. If anything is feeling strained, it's just not being done right- either sitting on the floor or on a stool.

[rachfan]

The only professional pianist I ever heard of practicing frequently while sitting on the floor was the late pops artist Roger Williams.