Piano Forum

Topic: bench height  (Read 1865 times)

Offline ChristmasCarol

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 168
bench height
on: October 08, 2004, 06:08:09 PM
Telephone books, pillows, little stools, anybody got better ideas how to deal with the constant problem of little bodies on big low piano benches?  

Offline xvimbi

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2439
Re: bench height
Reply #1 on: October 08, 2004, 07:42:36 PM
I think it is much better to put something under the bench than to put something on the bench. A selection of wooden boards or carpet samples large enough to accommodate the entire bench are good choices. Alternativey, having a set of benches that together cover the entire height range would of course work too.

Offline ChristmasCarol

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 168
Re: bench height
Reply #2 on: October 08, 2004, 09:01:14 PM
Quote
I think it is much better to put something under the bench than to put something on the bench. A selection of wooden boards or carpet samples large enough to accommodate the entire bench are good choices. Alternativey, having a set of benches that together cover the entire height range would of course work too.


Thanks,
I teach most lessons at the student's home.  But your ideas are great.  
Thanks

Offline CC

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 185
Re: bench height
Reply #3 on: October 10, 2004, 06:28:29 AM
Too many teachers may be sitting their students too high.  Look at examples of Glenn Gould and Horowitz; they (and many other great pianists) sit very low.  Children sitting on regular bench tend to be lower than adults, but not low enough to cause problems.  There may be no need to raise the height.

There is a tendency to teach curled finger position from the beginning which may not be the optimum thing to do because the students never learn to relax the last phalanges of the finger and end up with lifelong stress of sorts.  You need high bench position mainly for teaching curl position. Youngsters naturally tend to play flat and there is no indication that that is bad.  Sitting low is excellent for flat finger playing and encourages use of the fleshy part of finger for playing, what students should be taught to do.  Curled position is absolutely necessary, but so are the flat positions; thus curl can be gradually taught later on as the ability of the child to bend the fingers increases with age.  By then, they are taller.  Additional cushions, books, etc., can be dangerous and some children feel uncomfortable.  Perhaps the only thing you need to teach them is not to swing their dangling feet back and forth.
C.C.Chang; my home page:

 https://www.pianopractice.org/

Offline allchopin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1171
Re: bench height
Reply #4 on: October 10, 2004, 07:32:33 AM
Quote
Too many teachers may be sitting their students too high.  Look at examples of Glenn Gould and Horowitz; they (and many other great pianists) sit very low.  Children sitting on regular bench tend to be lower than adults, but not low enough to cause problems.  There may be no need to raise the height.

Ha, is this your justification for sitting low being okay?  Glenn Gould died of hypertension after all.  He is not to be modeled.
A modern house without a flush toilet... uncanny.
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert